MLS star Sebastian Berhalter has recalled his first interaction with Cristiano Ronaldo, claiming that he remembers how the former Real Madrid star smelled. The Vancouver Whitecaps midfielder was 10 years old when he met the Portuguese superstar after a friendly against the LA Galaxy in the United States.

Speaking to MLS Soccer, Berhalter said that Ronaldo’s everlasting impression on him was the smell after the game. He claimed that the forward smelled good and recalled the short interaction on the pitch.

He said:

“The most memorable thing for me was the way he smelled. And I’m like, 10 years old. I’m like, how does he smell so good and I don’t even know like what scent is at 10 years old, you know, and I just like walked away from the interaction being like, he smells so good. And like and I’ll never forget that and he just said, like, you know, I just said great game. He said, ‘oh, like nice to meet you.’ Give me a little rub in the head. But yeah, like, stuff like that is cool, you know.”

The MLS star’s father, Gregg Berhalter, was playing for LA Galaxy when Real Madrid were on their pre-season tour of the United States. Recalling how he ended up on the pitch, Berhalter said:

“Yeah they had a friendly, I think in the Rose Bowl against Madrid. So then I after the game, I was a ball kid, and just ran on the field and, you know, shook his hand. I was like, you know, I might never be able to do this again so it was cool.”

Sebastian Berhalter joked that he ensures he smells as good as Cristiano Ronaldo when he interacts with young fans.

Pundit wanted MLS sides to try and sign Cristiano Ronaldo

ESPN analyst Herculez Gomez spoke about Cristiano Ronaldo earlier this year and urged MLS sides to make a move for the Al-Nassr superstar. He claimed that the Portuguese forward would bring in more eyeballs to the league, and it was up to the owners of the club to make a similar deal to that of Lionel Messi at Inter Miami and said (via GOAL):

“Do I see someone within Major League Soccer with the ability to do that? Maybe. Should they do that? Absolutely. There is no absolute way you have Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi playing in the same league, and you’re not going to pay attention.”

“Whether you’re a hater of what they have become now, or whether you’re a lover of what they’ve done to the game. Two players who have played at the highest of levels for so long, who have competed against one another.”

Cristiano Ronaldo has since extended his contract at Al-Nassr, keeping him at the club until 2027.