Footballers are often starstruck when they meet their idols on the same pitch as themselves.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s famous reaction upon playing against his idol Ronaldo Nazario in a Milan derby is a famous example.
Kylian Mbappe’s self-confessed ‘idol’ moment with Cristiano Ronaldo is another.
Idol 👑🐐… @Cristiano pic.twitter.com/uZGEXnhuUB
— Kylian Mbappé (@KMbappe) October 11, 2020
A similar thing happened in Rangers’ pre-season friendly against Real Madrid when Rodrygo met Steven Gerrard.
The Liverpool legend’s record-breaking Rangers side met Los Blancos in a pre-season outing at the Ibrox but the occasion was extra special for a certain Rodrygo Silva de Goes.
The Brazilian wonderkid spotted a footballing idol in person, coincidentally the opposition manager on the touchline.
It didn’t even matter for the Brazilian that he was in the middle of a game of football as he offered to shake Gerrard’s hands – and a smiling Gerrard obliged to greet him.
It was a wholesome moment that the Brazilian will remember for a long, long time.
The afternoon was a good one for Rodrygo who gave Carlo Ancelotti’s side the early lead in the manager’s first game in charge of the Royal Whites.
But a couple of second-half goals from Fashion Sakala and Cedric Itten meant that Rangers emerged victorious in the friendly outing.
Regardless of the outcome of the match, it was one that Rodrygo will make sure to tell his kids years down the line – and reminisce fondly about the pre-season friendly match where he met his childhood idol who promptly exchanged smiles with him, and gave him a pat on the back.
Real Madrid wonderkid Rodrygo noticing he was next to Steven Gerrard so goes over for the handshake…
— Footy Accumulators (@FootyAccums) July 27, 2021
Respecting one of his idols 🤝
📹 @TNTSportsBR pic.twitter.com/E686ORu0JC
