Cristiano Ronaldo is facing a race against time to prove he’s French enough to play in Sunday’s World Cup Final.
Horrified by the thought of his arch-nemesis Lionel Messi winning the one trophy both players have yet to add to their CVs, CR7 has not given up hope that he can prove to French boss Didier Deschamps that he’s eligible for selection.
A close adviser of the Portuguese superstar told Paddy Power News that Ronaldo has signed up for a week’s free trial on Ancestry.com to try to find a distant relative that would allow him to make Les Bleus’ final squad.
“Ronnie’s pulling out all the stops” they explained. “He’s currently gone back as far as the early 15th century, but unfortunately he’s found nothing yet.”
“He has however, discovered that his great, great, great, great grandfather once tried to swim the English Channel and that he’s a distant relative of Matthew Hopkins, the Witchfinder General.”
Another close friend of Ronaldo told us that: “Cristiano rang his mum yesterday to see if she could dig out his old French A level certificate and scan it over to him, as he thinks this may persuade FIFA that he’s eligible to play for France.
NEW TO PADDY POWER NEWS?
“The thought of Messi winning the World Cup is driving him crazy. He only managed to do 1000 sit-ups yesterday rather than his usual 10,000. He cuts a desperate figure at the moment.”
Ronaldo’s agent, Jorge Mendes, is understood to be putting together a dossier to present to world football’s governing body on Saturday, showing that his client does qualify for selection.
One insider told us: “It’s a pretty comprehensive list which includes the fact that he once did a summer on a student exchange in Paris, where he spent his entire time wearing a beret, stripy t-shirt and travelled around on a bicycle with some onions around his neck.
MUNICH, GERMANY – JUNE 18: Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal looks on during the Portugal Training Session ahead of the UEFA Euro 2020 Group F match between Portugal and Germany at Fussball Arena Muenchen on June 18, 2021 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images)
“It also claims that he’s watched A View to a Kill, which is set in the French capital, over 100 times and is his favourite movie of all time.”
Meanwhile, back at the French camp, our source gave us a brief update on what is a developing situation.
“Didier is being kept aware and is currently talking to his bosses about how best to manage things moving forward.
“We understand that Olivier (Giroud) is unhappy with the idea that Ronaldo’s late inclusion would mean he wouldn’t be the most handsome player on the pitch on Sunday and that the dressing-room at the Lusail Stadium has only got one working hair dryer in it.”
*Paddy Power’s breaking news coverage is 110% nonsense
Read More
- Phil Neville sends scouts to watch Messi as Inter Miami rumours swirl
- Breaking: Al-Nassr offer Ronaldo plus cash to PSG for Messi
- Stars of Qatar-owned club to meet in Qatar World Cup final
- Crouchy’s Shouts: Lionel Messi to star in this 23/1 punt on Argentina v France