Over the years, Cristiano Ronaldo has grown stronger with awesome physical abilities but Phil Babb, his former teammate at Sporting Lisbon, will never forget going down in history as the one who gave CR7 his first knock out. The former Liverpool who also hand stints with Coventry City and Sunderland, meted out one-man jungle justice on the Portuguese for being talented. And the 45-year-old still feel very excited with the memory.
Babb, the Republic of Ireland international footballer who played for Liverpool between 1994 and 2000, made the revelation on Sky Sports’s Fantasy Football Show.
According to the report, Babb said Ronaldo’s amazing skills angered him so much that he couldn’t wait for a chance to get revenge.
Talking about the hilarious moment, Babb said: “When he came into the dressing room for the first time, he was really skinny.
“[On why he got so mad at the Ballon d’Or winner] This little kids runs at me. He steps over twice, three times, goes past me, sticks it in the top bin (corner).
“All the lads are like ‘Babbsy he’s had you off.’
“So the next time, he’s coming at me: step over one way, step over the next, he shoots past me — so I forearm chop him.
“I knock him out. So Ronaldo’s on the floor, and I’m like ‘Nunca mais’ [Portuguese for ‘Never again’]. He’s looking at me and he doesn’t know what has happened.
“Needless to say, he went down the other side and never came back.”
Funny as it is, Ronaldo proved himself unstoppable, leaving Sporting to Manchester United and then Real Madrid. The Portuguese is now regarded as one of the best footballers to have ever played the round leather game.
Image: Phil Babb
Meanwhile, Babb represented the Republic of Ireland and earned 35 full caps, including four matches at the 1994 FIFA World Cup.
Phil Babb and his Ireland teammate Mark Kennedy were sent home from a training camp in August 2000 after a lawsuit was filed against them for “drunken driving, abusive behaviour and causing criminal damage.”
Babb’s final game for Ireland was in UEFA Euro 2004 qualifying against Russia in Moscow. In the game played on 7 September 2002, the footballer came in as a sub in the 85th minute. Unfortunately, his first touch of the ball was diverted behind Irish goalkeeper Shay Given for an own goal.
Ex @LFC man Phil Babb on his time at @Sporting_CP and dealing with a young@Cristiano. We are on @SkySports 3 and available on demand! #CR7pic.twitter.com/dOtRjfVpX5
— Fantasy FC ⚽️ (@FantasyFC) November 11, 2016
