Cristiano Ronaldo does not appear to be a fan of carbonated soft drinks after the Portugal captain removed two bottles of Coca-Cola kept in front of him at Monday's Euro 2020 press conference, encouraging people to drink water instead.
The 36-year-old moved the bottles aside as he sat down to speak to the media before Tuesday’s Group F opener against Hungary.
He followed it by holding a bottle of water before saying in Portuguese: ‘Agua!’
Coca-Cola’s share price dropped from $56.10 to $55.22 almost immediately after Ronaldo’s gesture, a 1.6 per cent dip. The market value of Coca-Cola went from $242bn to $238bn – a drop of $4bn.
Coca-Cola, one of the official sponsors of Euro 2020, replied on Tuesday with a statement that said “everyone is entitled to their drink preferences” with different “tastes and needs”.
A Euros spokesperson said: “Players are offered water, alongside Coca-Cola and Coca-Cola Zero Sugar, on arrival at our press conferences.”
France midfielder Paul Pogba removed a bottle of Heineken beer that had been placed in front of him at a Euro 2020 news conference on Tuesday.
Pogba, a practising Muslim, removed the bottle when he sat down to speak to the media after he was named man of the match in France’s 1-0 Group F win over Germany. – Agencies
