Rob is senior football editor at GiveMeSport, with over 15 years experience covering sport in various capacities since graduating from the University of Gloucestershire in 2008 with a degree in journalism.

A childhood obsession for all things football developed into a career writing about the beautiful game, initially producing content for clients including Luton Town Football Club and the PGMOL. His first big interviews were with Premier League referees Howard Webb and Michael Oliver in 2009.

He then spent four years producing written content for a betting website, mainly focusing on football, and was there to cover various games and tournaments including the 2010 World Cup and Euro 2012.

Rob joined GiveMeSport in 2013 (initially as a sub-editor before becoming a senior writer and then senior editor in 2020) and has covered countless football matches and other sporting events, interviewed various high-profile figures including Rio Ferdinand, Peter Crouch and Theo Walcott, and written well over 10,000 articles during that time.

Rob has played a key role in GiveMeSport's coverage of the World Cups in 2014, 2018 and 2022, plus Euro 2016, Euro 2020 and Euro 2024, along with many Champions League finals.

While football is Rob's area of expertise, he has also covered a wide range of other sports during his time at GiveMeSport including boxing, tennis and darts, as well as the 2016, 2020 and 2024 Olympic Games.

Cristiano Ronaldo has now caused a big stir online by ‘liking’ a controversial post in which Felipe Melo, the former Brazil international, criticises the five-time Ballon d’Or winner’s Portugal teammates.

Ronaldo’s international career now appears to be over after he walked out of Portugal’s camp this week.

The 41-year-old vowed to reveal “the truth” behind his shock departure amid reports of a rift with Portugal’s recently-appointed head coach Jorge Jesus.

Jesus’ initial plan was to bring Ronaldo off the substitutes’ bench during last Sunday’s 2-1 win over Norway. However, the 72-year-old changed his mind during the game, opting to leave the legendary goalscorer on the bench instead.

Ronaldo subsequently walked out of the Portugal camp and missed Thursday’s 4-2 win against Denmark. He will also miss Sunday’s second UEFA Nations League clash against Norway.

"In due course, I will tell the Portuguese people the truth about the reasons behind my departure from the national team, to which I have always been dedicated,” the Al-Nassr star, who remains the world’s highest-paid footballer, said on social media. “Now is the time to wish good luck to Portugal and to all my teammates, without exception."

Ronaldo's Controversial Instagram 'Like' Confirmed

But Ronaldo’s teammates may have less sympathy for Portugal’s all-time leading goalscorer following an eyebrow-raising ‘like’ on Instagram.

Felipe Melo, the former Juventus, Galatasaray and Inter Milan midfield enforcer, claims Ronaldo is more respected by opponents than his own international teammates.

He used the example of Denmark’s Rasmus Hojlund, who celebrated his goal against Portugal by performing Ronaldo’s iconic ‘Siuuu’ celebration and was also involved in a curious incident with Jesus at full-time.

"I see a grotesque difference in the players' treatment with Cristiano Ronaldo in relation to Argentina players with [Lionel] Messi,” Melo said, in quotes translated via CNN Brasil. “I see much more respect from the opponents who play against Cristiano Ronaldo, I think that's wrong.”

He reportedly added: “No one reaches the level of Cristiano Ronaldo. It’s unacceptable. You can’t let the best player in history leave like that, as if nothing had happened. You can’t.”

Eagle-eyed football fans spotted Ronaldo’s official Instagram account, which boasts a record 679 million followers, ‘liked’ the post on Sportv’s channel.

Sportv have since confirmed that Ronaldo ‘liked’ the aforementioned Instagram reel.

This incident won’t help the situation and risks alienating Ronaldo from the Portugal players who may have had his back.

However, some of Portugal’s players appear to be backing Jesus over Ronaldo, including Paris Saint-Germain’s Ballon d’Or contender Vitinha, who praised the impact of the new head coach following the win over Denmark.

Ronaldo’s extraordinary international career, it seems, is now in real danger of ending on a rather sad note.