Football fans' attention on Tuesday will be focused on Cristiano Ronaldo, but in Vilnius there will be many other extremely talented players, valued not in tens, but in hundreds of millions in the football market. One of them - Bernardo Silva, whom Lithuanian stadiums and playgrounds are already familiar with.
At 34, C. Ronaldo is still demonstrating excellent results, but it is likely that his career in the national team is nearing its end. 19-year-old João Félix became the most expensive player in Europe's transfer market this summer, but he is only starting his second season in professional football, and is a newcomer to the national team.
In the coming years, the player who is currently at the peak of his career in terms of age - 25-year-old Bernardo Silva - is playing an increasingly prominent role in the Portuguese national team.
In the summer of 2013, after the final stage of the European U-19 Championship held in Lithuania, 10 promising talents were selected (including Gratas Sirgėdas). This was probably the first time the football world heard of B. Silva. Returning from Lithuania, the young footballer began playing for Benfica's reserve team. In the 2013-2014 season, he was selected as the best player in the Portuguese second league and was nicknamed "Messizinho" (little Messi).
Playing for Benfica was a dream for the boy, he even had the club's motto tattooed on his hand, and considered one of the most famous club alumni, Rui Costa, playing in the number 10 position, as his ideal.
However, Bernardo's dream was not destined to come true. While he was still 15-16 years old in the Lisbon club, B. Silva experienced many difficulties. He didn't get to play because he wasn't as strong as the other boys and even considered leaving the team. However, the Benfica coaches convinced the player not to give up, to think about what he could improve, rather than his shortcomings.
But even after becoming a leader of Benfica's reserve team, he did not break into the main team - he only played 31 minutes. At that time, Benfica coach Jorge Jesus did not trust young players. As the player himself recently admitted, "when he placed me as a left-back in training, I realized that I had no future in the club."
Portugal's talent was spotted by Monaco, who had excelled in scouting, and decided to loan the player. Under the guidance of Portuguese Leonardo Jardim, the young footballer quickly excelled and was bought back for almost 16 million euros after just half a year.
Monaco is often associated with a luxurious lifestyle, casinos, yachts, and fancy cars. It would seem that a player earning tens of thousands of euros per week could afford a large house. However, the modest boy - who describes himself as a city man - chose a small apartment with one bedroom and a small kitchen. He washed his own dishes because he didn't have a dishwasher, and dried clothes on a modest balcony.
In Monaco, Bernardo quickly became one of the team's leaders and in the 2016-2017 season helped the team win the French championship and reach the Champions League semi-finals. In the quarter-finals, Monaco sensationally knocked out the Manchester City team. After the match, in the interview zone, he was congratulated on the victory by Man City's coach Pep Guardiola and praised Silva's game.
City quickly acquired the Portuguese player. On May 20, 2017, he played his last match for Monaco, and on the 27th he was already presented as a City member. B. Silva quickly adapted in England - he didn't need to learn a new language, as he went to a private English-speaking school in Lisbon as a child.
In the 2017-2018 season, B. Silva played 53 matches - more than any other player in the City team. Manchester's club won the Premier League with a record 100 points. Last year he was voted the best City player of the season and helped the team defend the title.
B. Silva is a versatile, creative player who excellently controls the ball, stands out for his thinking and vision, can make a great pass, and score goals himself. "I call him chewing gum, because the ball is stuck to his foot," says teammate Benjamin Mendy. B. Silva once mentioned decision-making as his strongest skill.
Bernardo not only stands out for his extraordinary football talent but is also a gentleman on the pitch, who rarely complains and focuses on the game. "He always knew that he wouldn't win physical battles, as he was always the smallest. Therefore, he always thought about how to avoid opponents. That's why he sees two or three steps ahead when catching the ball," said former Benfica youth team coach Pepa.
Representing Portugal, success has so far eluded him. With the national youth team, he reached the final of the 2015 UEFA U21 Championship but lost after a penalty shootout.
Shortly before the 2016 European Championship, B. Silva suffered an injury and did not make it to the team that became champions. Adapting to the national team's style of play, which is much more disciplined than City's, is also not easy. However, success slowly comes - in Portugal's UEFA Nations League final tournament win, B. Silva was named the most valuable player.
In the last 7 matches, Portugal scored a total of 12 goals. B. Silva significantly contributed to 7 of them. In the recent match against Serbia, in the second half at crucial moments - after the opponent's goals - it was Bernardo who took the initiative. He made a decisive pass, scored a goal, and secured Portugal's 4-2 victory. The Portuguese media in that match praised B. Silva and C. Ronaldo's performance the most.
If the Lithuanian national team wants to stand up to the European champions, it will be important to stop not only the famous CR7 but also the smaller boy wearing the number 10 jersey from Lisbon.
E. Žaldario nuotr.
