Brazilian photographer Marcelo Goes, in a post on social networks, announced that he was one of the winners of the World Sports Photography Awards 2024 with a photo of… Cristiano Ronaldo, taken last October during the national team’s victory over the Slovak team. (3-2)at the Dragau Stadium, in a game associated with the 7th round of the Euro 2024 qualifying stage.
In the “post” in question, where he shows the image that won him the prize (referring to the moment when Ronaldo runs towards the camera with open arms, celebrating a goal), Marcelo recalls that before leaving home that day, he managed “predict” what will happen: “I was talking on the phone to my friend and told him that the sky was falling because it was raining so much. I also told him: “If I’m lucky, Cristiano will score and he’ll be running behind my steering wheel with his arms wide open to the rain.”
Let us recall that in the game in question, which marked the presence of Portugal at Euro 2024, the national team won with a score of 3:2 thanks to goals from Gonçalo Ramos (18 minutes) and Cristiano Ronaldo (29 minutes and 72 minutes). Hanko (69′) and Lobotka (80′) also scored.
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“Before I left and went to the Dragao stadium, I spoke to my friend on the phone and told him that the sky was falling because of so much rain. I also told him: “If I’m lucky, Cristiano will score and he’ll run towards me with his arms outstretched in the rain.”
Everything happened very quickly and I acted instinctively. I didn’t even have time to think.
I probably had three or four seconds to point and take the photo. With every step Cristiano took towards me, it became more and more difficult to determine the angle until it became impossible. At the end of the day I knew I had done it.
I was so confident that I even quit the game after 75 minutes and went to the “media room” to unload my equipment and look through the files on the computer.
When I placed the camera and lens on the table, I noticed that the front lens was very wet. I was scared because I thought the image might be out of focus, but luckily it was not only in focus, but even gave the impression of being somewhat exaggerated, making it look like a single image. I had no doubt that I had the photograph of my life there and that the only thing on my mind was the World Sports Photography Awards.
For those who want to pursue a career in sports, it requires a lot of determination, hard work and passion. Sports photography is much more complex than people think. And it’s even more difficult for a freelancer. It’s been an incredible journey, but I had to work to get where I am. No agency opened its doors to me, and I had to make my way as a freelancer.
It’s a very lonely journey. Most people don’t fully understand what I’ve been doing over the past few years. But there are people who supported me with unconditional love. This award is dedicated to my mother Vera, who raised me with the most love I could ever receive. To my sister Adrilea, who laid the foundation for my education, as well as to her husband Paulo. The mother of my children and my partner Denise, and especially these two, Luis Victor and Diego, for whom I have absolute, eternal and unconditional love, who are my everything and complete my life.
To all of you, my deepest gratitude from the bottom of my heart, love and everything I am, have or will ever be.”