Cristiano Ronaldo x MS Dhoni: FIFA’s ‘Thala for a reason’ post is a pleasant surprise

FIFA World Cup’s official social media handle hyped up football fans by linking Portugal football star Cristiano Ronaldo with India cricket star and former skipper MS Dhoni.

With the popular “Thala for a reason” meme reference. As Ronaldo gears up to feature in Portugal’s UEFA Euro 2024 opener against Czechia on June 19, the post by FIFA World Cup has only amped up the excitement amongst the former Real Madrid and Manchester United forward’s massive fanbase. Both Dhoni and Ronaldo share the same jersey number 7, which Ronaldo dons in both Al Nassr and Portugal, whereas Dhoni previously donned it for India and still does for CSK.

After playing 207 games for Portugal, which saw him become the highest men’s international goalscorer with his 130 goals, one might be surprised at the fact that the 39-year-old Ronaldo is still the side’s prime attacking option, with the likes of Joao Felix and Rafael Leao in the squad. Similarly, the 42-year-old Dhoni was one of the standout performers for CSK with the bat during the recently concluded Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024, showcasing his vintage explosiveness in the batting order.

Within touching distance of 40, Ronaldo’s name tops the list of legendary players likely to be gracing the European Championship for the last-ever time. Despite being on the wrong side of the age bracket, the Portuguese superstar has consistently found his name on the scoresheet of both his club and the national side.

While Ronaldo’s goal-scoring prowess has not even taken an inch of the backseat, it is considerably safe to presume thi UEFA Euro 2024 to be his last dance in the competition. However, the former Real Madrid and Manchester United forward would surely like to leave the stage after an epic final show.