Manchester United icon Cristiano Ronaldo pays tribute to the Queen

Cristiano Ronaldo described Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II as “irreplaceable” in a heartfelt message following her passing.

He and fellow Manchester United teammates paid their respects before Thursday night’s Europa League tie against Real Sociedad with a minute’s silence, their Spanish opponents also joining them.

Ronaldo underlined how “important” the Queen was and how she embodied the warmth of the British people, something he said he's felt when twice making England his home. Writing on Instagram, he said: “Seven years of my career were played in the Premier League, making this my eighth season living in England.

READ MORE: United players send tributes to the Queen

“Throughout these years, I’ve felt the everlasting love of the UK for its Queen, and how important Her Majesty was and will forever be to the British people.

“I pay my respect to her memory and I mourn this irreplaceable loss with the country that I’ve learned to call home. My thoughts and prayers are with the Royal Family.”

There was a sombre mood around Old Trafford during the 1-0 loss to Sociedad. During the minute’s silence, a tribute to Her Majesty was displayed on the electronic advertisement boards as both sets of supporters held an impeccable moment of reflection.

The match ended 1-0 to the visitors thanks to a second-half penalty, which was conceded when the referee adjudged Lisandro Martinez to have handled the ball. There were no post-match interviews or press conference in light of the sad news on a day that will go down in history.

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