Ronaldo told Tottenham Hotspur forward Richarlison that he is ‘inspiring millions’ in Brazil with his ‘art’ and performances at the Qatar World Cup, as he told Ronaldo TV
The Tottenham summer signing scored his third goal of the Qatar World Cup when Brazil thrashed South Korea 4-1 to book a quarter-final ticket against 2018 finalists, Croatia.
Other than Argentina, no other nation in Doha is probably under more pressure to bring home football’s biggest trophy.
And in terms of individual players, no one is probably under more pressure than Richarlison himself given that he is playing that legendary striker role for Brazil.
Ronaldo himself became a generational talent and won the 2002 World Cup when he was donning those famous yellow colours and the all-time great thinks, for the first time in a long while, Brazil have a proper centre-forward of Richarlison’s mould.
“Wow,” said Ronaldo. “You are great. That’s three matches played, and now three more to go (to win the World Cup).
“What I did by inspiring you. It’s now your turn to inspire and you are inspiring millions of Brazilians and millions of kids with your art, your goals, your joy to play, your spontaneity, with your feelings. You are a pride to Brazil.
“It was a beautiful goal (against South Korea) – you are playing centre-forward and you are the out-and-out forward that we haven’t seen for a while.
“Score a lot more goals. Go for it and bring the sixth World Cup home.”
RICHARLISON TO FIRE BRAZIL TO WORLD CUP?
It would be something if Richarlison returns to north London as a world champion because Brazil are looking seriously, seriously good, so far.
There’s no doubt that the former Everton man performs better on the international stage than he does on the domestic scene.
But that’s what happens when you rep a nation like Brazil, who along with Argentina, are the favourites to secure glory in the Middle East.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
