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'One City, Two GOATs' - When Ronaldo-Led Man United Welcomed Virat Kohli In Manchester


image-lr6fmnc4Virat Kohli, Cristiano Ronaldo (X.com)

Cricketing icon Virat Kohli and football legend Cristiano Ronaldo are arguably two of the most influential and highly acclaimed athletes around the globe. Their following is in the millions, and the duo holds a firm grip over sports fans across the world. 

Their journeys to greatness, commitment to excellence, and global influence have made them not only sporting legends but also cultural icons transcending the boundaries of their disciplines.

Having said that, back in 2021, the two mega sporting icons landed at the same place at the same time. The Indian cricket team was touring England to feature in a five-game Test series. The final fixture of the series was scheduled at Emirates Old Trafford in Manchester.

When Kohli Nearly Met Ronaldo In Manchester

Surprisingly, Cristiano Ronaldo had just moved from Real Madrid to reunite with Manchester United after a prolonged gap of 12 years. To make things more exciting, Ronaldo was expected to debut for Man United around the same time when Virat Kohli landed in Manchester for his game.

Thus, Lancashire Cricket Club shared a picture of Kohli at a training session and highlighted how two mega sporting legends ironically ended up in the same city at the same time.

Remarkably, the football club also joined the banter as they left an eye-catching comment under the cricket club’s post on Kohli. 

However, sadly, Kohli and Ronaldo couldn’t meet eye to eye as India’s final Test match against England was abandoned due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Apparently, the disease flared up inside the Indian camp just days ahead of the scheduled fixture. The players, after undergoing tests and skipping practice sessions, wrote to the BCCI and sought intervention.

Subsequently, BCCI, in coordination with ECG, mutually decided to postpone the game until further notice. 

Nonetheless, Kohli and Ronaldo’s presence in the same city generated intense excitement amongst the sporting community. Had they met, the sporting community would have gone bonkers on social media.