Jose Fonte Talks Cristiano Ronaldo and More Ahead of Poland vs. Portugal

Jose Fonte has insisted Portugal can go on to win Euro 2016, led by Cristiano Ronaldo, the player he met aged 13 "doing push-ups in the shower." 

Southampton captain Fonte, 32, and Ronaldo, 31, have been friends for nearly 20 years since their youth team days at Sporting Lisbon, and the centre-back believes his Ballon d'Or-winning team-mate can push them to glory in France, per Jeremy Wilson in the Telegraph:

"

He's proved time and time again how good he is for the club and he is the best goalscorer in Portugal’s history. 

We believe in him and we just need to make sure, with him, we can achieve what we want. We want to win it and we believe we can do it.

"

Fernando Santos' side have yet to find their groove so far at Euro 2016, unable to win any of their four matches in 90 minutes.

They drew three times in the group stages—Ronaldo bagging a brace in a 3-3 thriller with Hungary—and then took their opportunity to beat in-form Croatia in extra time of their last-16 clash as Ricardo Quaresma finished off a quick counter-attack in the 117th minute.

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Fonte's first appearance of the Euros against Croatia was his major tournament debut, and he is expected to turn out again in Portugal's quarter-final with Poland, per Wilson.

The fact that Portugal have yet to hit top form—while still getting through to the last eight—is ominous for the rest of the sides in the tournament.

Fonte is part of a decent core of players in the squad, alongside Real Madrid's Pepe, Fenerbahce's Nani, Monaco's Joao Moutinho, Besiktas' Quaresma and young midfield duo Renato Sanches and William Carvalho.

Then, of course, there is Ronaldo, arguably the best player in the competition, and for Fonte, the best in the world, per Wilson:

"

He would say to everyone [at Sporting], "I will do more push-ups than you in the shower after training". And he would. He would do more than everyone. It showed how competitive he is. He was so far ahead of everyone.

I love [Lionel] Messi but Ronaldo is Ronaldo. He was only young and I saw him millions of times in the gym, after training, when everyone else had gone home trying to get stronger, trying to be quicker. His work ethic and desire to be the best is unmatchable.

He’s a world phenomenon. You can’t go anywhere; everyone knows him. He is recognised worldwide and attracts so many millions of people. Everyone wants a piece of him.

"

Ronaldo is good enough to effectively beat some teams by himself and, as yet, no side in the competition has proved to be consistently unbeatable.

Portugal have been lucky to fall on the easier side of the draw in France, and they are now favourites to prevail against Poland, and then face either Belgium or Wales in the semi-finals, per Bleacher Report UK:

The worst-case, but most likely, scenario would be having to face an in-form Belgium, but on their best day, Ronaldo and his oft-overshadowed team-mates could see off the Red Devils and make the final, as discussed by Bleacher Report's panel:

Then it would be a matter of one win between Ronaldo and arguably the greatest achievement of his career—winning a major tournament with Portugal.

While it is still a long shot, given what Fonte said about the former Manchester United man's immense drive, Ronaldo could yet see Portugal to glory in France.