Moths swarm around stadium before Euro 2016 final

Top Stories

Embracing the bright side: A guide on how to cultivate optimism

The power of solitude: Why you should go on a solo trip

How to get your kids to read: Essential tips for parents

Moths swarm around stadium before Euro 2016 final

Published: Mon 11 Jul 2016, 11:32 AM

Last updated: Wed 18 Dec 2019, 4:20 PM

Swarms of moths flew around the Stade de France stadium before soccer's European Championship final, and one had its moment of glory when it flew into superstar Cristiano Ronaldo's face as he sat injured on the pitch.

Moth of the match .. The first to comfort a crying Ronaldo pic.twitter.com/KEcwBLlOst
- The Offside Rule (@OffsideRulePod) July 10, 2016

Team officials walking on the pitch shortly before kickoff were seen shaking off the uninvited insects.
"The floodlights stayed on all night and all the moths around flocked the stadium," a security officer said.

In 28-degree (82 Fahrenheit) heat in the stadium, the moths are at field level and dozens of birds are circling about the roof.
Referee Mark Clattenburg of England was seen swiping at the moths as he tested the goal-line technology equipment at each end of the pitch before the France vs. Portugal game.

France coach Didier Deschamps stayed on the field only briefly with members of his staff 90 minutes before the kickoff

Members of UEFA's executive committee, including former Croatia forward Davor Suker, were also flapping their hands at the insects as they posed for a team photograph near the entrance to the players' tunnel.
Stadium staff with vacuum cleaners were gathering up moths in each of the technical areas in front of the dugouts.

By Web Report

Twitter abuzz with Ronaldo memes minutes
Social media has been going into meltdown with the epic image of Ronaldo and the moth going viral. Here are some of the best reactions:

what was better?
retweet for ronaldo's moth.
like for ronaldo.
- theGOALpage (@theGOALpage)

Ronaldo stretchered off after a brutal tackle by a moth

pic.twitter.com/PzIPN3yTeA
- Old Holborn ? (@Holbornlolz)

The Ronaldo moth has just been subject of a £50m bid from Chinese Club Guangzhou Evergrande.
- Paddy Power (@paddypower) July 10, 2016

RIP Ronaldo's Moth. The world's most famous footballing insect has died after a long and illustrious career. He was 6 weeks old.
- Ricky Gervais (@rickygervais) July 10, 2016

Imagine if the moth swallowed one of Ronaldo's tears he could become the greatest player in insect history x
- noel fielding (@noelfielding11) July 10, 2016

Don't mean to exaggerate how bad this game has been but I genuinely think the moth that landed on Ronaldo's face is man of the match so far.
- TheODDSbible (@TheOddsBible) July 10, 2016

We all know a Moth that landed on Ronaldo
- We All Know A (@WeAlIlKnowA)

Did that moth just drink the tears of Ronaldo!
- Matt Kean (@matt__kean)

The soccer gods sent Ronaldo some butterfly kisses to ease the pain #Euro2016Final pic.twitter.com/UX2iaTxKh3
- Taylen Peterson (@taylen24) July 10, 2016

Ronaldo & the moth is the new Winnie the Pooh & the butterfly! pic.twitter.com/5r7hKvgtWO
- Sarah? (@Sazzyness) July 10, 2016

Maybe it's because of the butterfly! #CR7 #PortugalvsFrance #AllezlesBleus pic.twitter.com/nQkr3KhpvA
- Hau Dinh (@haudtt) July 10, 2016

Poor #ronaldo or is it poor #moth ? pic.twitter.com/3lJVpsvy0S
- Darren Rowbotham (@DarrenRow) July 10, 2016

Have just landed at Stansted and the news that Ronaldo was crying with a moth on his face has cheered me up no end
- Emma Kelly (@TooManyEmmas) July 10, 2016

Moth of the match .. The first to comfort a crying Ronaldo pic.twitter.com/KEcwBLlOst
- The Offside Rule (@OffsideRulePod) July 10, 2016

Moth on the eyebrow really ruined that emotional Ronaldo footage.
- Rhys James (@rhysjamesy) July 10, 2016

I thought this moth was gonna cry and fix Ronaldo the way Dumbledore's phoenix, Fawkes does. ?? #Euro2016Finale pic.twitter.com/Fr7K8WpclZ
- Hassnain. (@hassy110) July 10, 2016