Watching Cristiano Ronaldo train and then play in Toronto felt surreal, but pairing that with my first-ever Chipotle experience made it feel like a double dose of heaven.
Portugal knocked out Croatia, a team I had previously covered during their group-stage match against Panama. But before the football story, I had already experienced something new with food.
I had heard a lot about Chipotle but had never tried it. Seeing them pile rice, meat, beans, toppings and sauces into one wrap made me wonder whether it would actually work. It did. The first bite was enough to convince me. It was fresh, filling and much better than I expected. The self-service drinks machine also caught my attention. It almost tests your self-control because you can keep going back for refills without thinking twice.
A friend’s brother took me there before we visited a lovely bookshop. I could have spent hours in the sports section alone. It was one of those places where you lose track of time without even noticing.
Later, I walked around Toronto’s waterfront, watching people jog, cycle, walk their dogs or simply enjoy the sunshine. It was a peaceful break from the constant rush of World Cup coverage.
Getting around the city has been an adventure in itself. Buses, trains and friendly conversations have made Toronto easy to enjoy. The biggest surprise, though, has been the weather. Everyone warned me about Canada’s cold, but nobody mentioned the July heat. I finally broke into a proper sweat for the first time since arriving.
I also caught up with someone who has always encouraged and pushed me, popularly known as “Waka Waka Dr”. How we met is a story for another diary entry, but it was great to see him again. I had some carrot cake and coffee while there. The cake was excellent. The coffee, on the other hand, simply confirmed what I already knew, I am not a coffee person.
Portugal’s training session attracted fans from everywhere, all hoping for a glimpse of Cristiano Ronaldo. Two Portugal supporters I interviewed settled football’s biggest debate without hesitation.
“Messi is number two, Ronaldo is number one.”
Standing just a few metres away from Ronaldo in training was something I will not forget. Watching him find the net and then celebrate with his famous “SUI” made it even better. Hearing thousands of fans shout it together is something television can never truly capture.
After the match, I headed to the press conference with a pounding headache. Halfway through, I started regretting choosing the press conference over the mixed zone, where there might have been a better shot at a one-on-one moment with Ronaldo.
Despite the headache, the long day and the missed opportunity, it reminded me why I love this job. Some moments you don’t just report, you live them.
If you read my first diary, I mentioned how special this trip has been beyond the football. That part is still to come. For now, Toronto has treated me well, and although the World Cup games here are over, my coverage is far from over.
