'I was suffering from jetlag' - John O’Shea jokes on Lisbon clash that launched Ronaldo's career

Roy Keane would later jest about O’Shea requiring medical attention at half-time, such was the runaround he was subjected to from the rising star.

Assistant head coach John O'Shea during a Republic of Ireland media conference at the FAI Headquarters. Pic: Ben McShane/Sportsfile

John O’Shea was hurtled into a state of dizziness by Cristiano Ronaldo when he first visited Estádio José Alvalade and the hope is his Ireland successors aren’t left similarly spinning on Saturday.

Ronaldo is still going at 40 and will earn his 223rd cap by leading out Portugal on Saturday at the Lisbon home of the club he left to join O’Shea at Manchester United in 2003.