The Cristiano Ronaldo lesson that helps Celtic named by Liam Scales as he opens up on superstar 'humbling'

Cristiano Ronaldo's Euros might best be remembered for the Portugal skipper’s tears. But Liam Scales insists trying to stop him in a friendly last month was all the proof he needed that the ageing megastar is still more of a baller than a bawler.

The Celtic defender went toe-to-toe with the former Real Madrid and Manchester United ace for 90 minutes with Ireland - and admits facing up the 39-year-old was a nightmare. Yet the experience has left Scales crying out for more. And with an expanded Champions League campaign just around the corner the Hoops man knows the next big assignment might be just around the corner.

Scales featured in all six of the Parkhead side’s group stage games against Atletico Madrid, Lazio and Feyenoord last season. He admits Ronaldo - who netted two second half goals in Portugal’s 3-0 win over the Irish - is the best he has ever faced. And while the Al-Nassr star isn’t gracing Europe’s top competition these days after heading to the middle east, Scales is hungry to face the best the continent has to offer.

He said: “That was a tough night against Portugal and Ronaldo. It was almost humbling playing against them. I went into the game thinking, ‘I’ve got experience in the Champions League, I’ll be well able’.

“I felt like I could play against them but the whole Portugal team were brilliant, not just Ronaldo. It was their farewell match before the Euros and it was our last game before going on a break.

“You are already expecting that they will be right at it and they were. Ronaldo was quality and it was just his game intelligence that stood out, along with the goals he scored.

“For his first, I thought I had the shot blocked and it has gone a millimetre over my foot and right into the one