Cristiano Ronaldo’s heart rate was tracked during his side’s victory over Slovenia – and the results are fascinating.
The Slovenians took Portugal to penalties on Monday following a 0-0 draw in normal time and extra time.
But the Euro 2016 champions inflicted a 3-0 penalty shootout win in the end, with Diogo Costa rising to be the hero with a hat-trick of saves to help his country squeeze through to the quarter-finals.
Portugal captain Ronaldo had a golden opportunity to seal victory in extra time as his side were awarded a spot-kick, only for Slovenia’s Jan Oblak to stun the world and get down to his left to bat the Manchester United legend’s shot away.
The 39-year-old had been reduced to tears after he missed his initial penalty, sparking debate over whether he was overindulging in his emotions.
But Ronaldo’s Whoop band shows he composed himself when it mattered.
Whoop is a fitness device that tracks sleep, strain, recovery, and health.
The data from Ronaldo’s watch shows he entered a flow state – a mental state in which a person is completely focused on a single task or activity – by lowering his heart rate from 170 bpm to less than 110 bpm throughout the penalty shootout.
The graph shows his heart rate was highest at the final whistle of extra time.
But by the time it was his turn to take his second spot-kick of the evening, his heart rate was at its lowest, going up again after he put the ball in the bottom left corner of the net.
Unsurprisingly, Ronaldo’s heart rate went right back up as his side sealed victory following Bernardo Silva’s penalty.
“Even the strongest people have their [bad] days,” Ronaldo said after the game. “I was at rock bottom when the team needed me most. I was sad at first but now I’m happy. That’s what football is. Moments, inexplicable moments.”
Asked about his emotion during the match, he said: “When I think of my family, I feel emotional because they are unique moments that I cannot express in words. They are people I love, the fans who are always with us and especially with me, and I am very happy about that.
“I hadn’t missed a penalty kick all year. I missed it, but the most important thing is that the team won. I lost twice on penalties this season and won the third time … We deserved to qualify.
“I will always give my best for this shirt, whether I fail or not, but you have to take responsibility when the team has to.
“I have never been afraid to face things head on. Sometimes I do things right, sometimes I don’t, but giving up is something you will never hear from me.”
Portugal will face France in the quarter-finals in a mouth watering clash this Friday.
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