Cristiano Ronaldo's sister makes claim about 'real reason' Portugal star broke down in tears

Cristiano Ronaldo’s sister claims he broke down in tears after have a penalty against Slovenia saved because he spotted their mother on the stadium’s big screen “suffering from a lifetime of pain.”

The former Manchester United star redeemed himself by scoring in the shootout as Portugal teed up a quarter-final against France on Friday night.

But the veteran goalscorer wasted a host of opportunities for Roberto Martinez’s team amid calls for him to be dropped, before seeing Jan Oblak keep out his attempt from 12 yards in the first period of extra time.

And the images of him in tears while in a huddle half way through extra time became the defining image of an evening when Portugal goalkeeper Diogo Costa was the hero - denying all three Slovenian attempts in the shootout.

But sister Elma Aveiro has leaped to her sibling’s defence with a post on Instagram in which she claimed the true reason he was upset was down to their mum.

“This scene happened when he saw our mother on the giant screen, suffering from a lifetime of pain,” she wrote, alongside an image of Ronaldo's tears. “Do you know what that means? You don’t know… No one will ever know… Not everything is football, fame and money.”

Ronaldo had just the eight attempts on goal against unfancied Slovenia and he was heavily criticised for trying to score a couple of free kicks from improbable angles. Yet Martinez is unlikely to drop the sport's most famous player despite his obvious physical struggles.

And speaking to Portuguese Sport TV minutes after the shootout, Ronaldo said: “Even the strongest people have their [bad] days, I was down and I was sad because the team needed me.

“Initial sadness and joy at the end, that’s what football brings, inexplicable moments, from the eighth minute to the 80th, that’s what happens.

“I could have given the national team the advantage, but I didn’t manage it, Oblak saved, I didn’t miss once during the year, and when I needed it most Oblak saved.

“It’s a feeling of sadness and joy at the same time, but the most important thing is progressing, the team deserved it.

“Slovenia spent almost the entire time defending and when it’s like that it’s very difficult, the team deserves congratulations, especially our goalkeeper who made three good saves.”

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