After meeting Cristiano Ronaldo and receiving his game-used jersey, a little soccer fan had an experience she would cherish forever.
When she scaled the Dublin Stadium fence to greet Ronaldo this morning, Addison, 11, scored a piece of football history.
Ronaldo played for Portugal, which drew 0-0 with Ireland in a World Cup qualifying match.
Ronaldo is no stranger to pitch invasions; in fact, before Addison had her chance, Ronaldo had to dodge a supporter who had entered the field during the game.
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However, Addison’s moment captured the attention of football enthusiasts on social media.
She also learned that she would have to pay a $4500 fine before having her cherished piece of Ronaldo memorabilia, which would draw some serious purchasers, erased.
Addison breached Dublin Stadium by sprinting onto the field after dodging many security personnel.
“I was fined for running onto the pitch. My dad’s going to pay it,” she was quoted saying on local radio after the match.
“I jumped over the barrier because I was in the second row. I jumped over the first row and over the barrier.
“Then I sprinted onto the pitch, but there were security guards running behind me and there was another two coming from the other corner so I just kept sprinting.
“When I saw the other two coming from the other corner I ran more towards the halfway line so then I could swerve around them, but then they caught me.
“Then I was just screaming Ronaldo’s name. He turned around and he saw me and he was telling them to leave me.
“So then I was calling him over. He came over to me. I was just in shock and crying and I was like, ‘Can I have your jersey? Please, please. I’m a big, huge fan’. He was saying, ‘Are you okay?’”
In advance of their pivotal meeting on Sunday in Portugal, the draw puts Portugal ahead of Serbia on goal differential.
Both teams have the same number of points (17), however Portugal has three more goals than Serbia.
Only the group winners automatically go to the tournament in Qatar the following year; all other competitors must compete in a playoff against the other group runners-up and the two group winners from the UEFA Nations League.
