Conor McGregor's bold bet on Ronaldo sparks fan backlash
Conor McGregor has high hopes for Cristiano Ronaldo. So high, in fact, that he bet CA$81,000 on the Portuguese player becoming the top scorer in Euro 2024. Many fans completely disagree and are telling Conor McGregor that he just threw away a fortune.
Cristiano Ronaldo kicked off his Euro 2024 performance on Tuesday. The Portuguese played a full match against the Czech Republic but did not score, which decreases Conor McGregor's chances of winning his bet.
Even before the match, which Portugal won 2-1, many fans doubted that Cristiano Ronaldo would compete for the top scorer title in Euro 2024. The fact remains that throughout his career, the Portuguese player has been impressive in scoring, but he's already 39, playing in the Saudi league and has stepped away from major club football.
Conor McGregor, who privately knows Cristiano Ronaldo, didn't hold back and bet CA$81,000 on Ronaldo winning the top scorers' ranking. If this happens, the Irishman will receive a payout of CA$1,125,000, making a profit of CA$1,044,000.
Conor McGregor and Cristiano Ronaldo are around the same age. The Irish mixed martial artist was born in 1988, and the footballer was born in 1985. When Cristiano Ronaldo played for Manchester United, Conor McGregor's admiration for the Portugal national team captain began in the early 2000s.
The Irishman is a fan of the Manchester Club, and Cristiano Ronaldo played there from 2003 to 2009, and again from 2021 to 2022. Conor McGregor recalled that at the age of eight, he bought his first Manchester United jersey with his communion money and 25 years later, he even wanted to buy the club from Old Trafford.
The CA$81,000 amount is impressive, although it's worth remembering that Conor McGregor's wealth is estimated at CA$270 million. Thus, any potential loss certainly won't ruin the Irishman's household budget. Additionally, it's worth noting that similar "crazy" bets are often a result of collaboration between celebrities and bookmakers.
