Heartbreaking: I made Portugal debut with Cristiano Ronaldo but retired at 25 for new career and Jose Mourinho did not recognise me

However, on February 24, 2001, the Portuguese footballers found themselves side-by-side on the same (metaphorical) flight.

It was an Under-15 match for Portugal against South Africa. Costinha, a young midfielder from Vitoria, was representing his country for the first time.

Ronaldo would go on to become Portugal’s greatest-ever player and one of the best ever to play the game.

“When I saw that I was no longer going to reach a high level, that I was unable to do so, I made the conscious decision to leave.

Many let themselves be dragged along too late, you even had legitimacy for that, to believe, because I had a very promising start.