Former SuperSport United defender Michael Boxall has discussed his interaction with Real Madrid Superstar Cristiano Ronaldo and his Portuguese teammates at the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup.
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Boxall was on the losing team in New Zealand's 4-0 loss at the hands of Ronaldo's Portuguese team and the 28-year-old had the opportunity to share the pitch with a star-studded team that included the likes of Ronaldo, former Barcelona winger, Ricardo Quaresma, Real Madrid's Pepe and former Manchester United winger, Nani. However, the Kiwi has said that, even though it's a privilege to play on the global stage, he didn't get star struck on the day.
"Yea it's incredible playing on stages like that," he told Soccer Laduma, I don't really get star struck with big players but it is cool to see them play from a couple yards away rather than on TV."
Boxall went on to praise the reigning European champions, before saying that he never got the chance to speak to the five-time Ballon D'Or winner, but that he did exchange a few words with Quaresma.
"And Portugal just have game winners all over the park," he continued. "We feel like we're in the game then they score almost out of nothing. Classy players they have. I didn't chat with him (Ronaldo). (I) only had a couple words with Quaresma who seems like a cool guy."
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Boxall played every minute of New Zealand's Confederations Cup campaign, but was not able to win any games for the All Whites, who will now turn their attention towards qualifying for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, with the team currently occupying the top spot of the Oceania Group A.
