Piotr Zielinski defends Cristiano Ronaldo selfie after criticism – with Poland captain forced to explain post-match antics after heavy defeat to Portugal

Five-time Ballon d’Or winner Ronaldo helped Portugal to a crushing 5-1 victory in his latest outing, with the all-time great adding another two goals to his record-breaking tally. The Poles are now facing the threat of relegation out of section A in the UEFA Nations League.

Despite that, and with five defeats suffered through their last eight games, Zielinski and international colleague Nicola Zalewski were all smiles when posing for post-match pictures with Al-Nassr superstar Ronaldo.

Their decision to cosy up with a rival that had just inflicted a heavy defeat upon their nation has been questioned by many, with ex-Poland skipper Jacek Bak saying: “It's not my thing. Times used to be different. We get 5-1 [defeat] and I have to ask Ronaldo for a picture? The guy who f*cked us a moment earlier? Do we really have no honour in us? Today, social media is the most important thing and the first one to post a picture with Ronaldo is better? That's not the way to go.

“Let's say it strongly: coach [Michal] Probierz should react. All that was missing was for him to take a picture with Ronaldo, or maybe swap jackets with Roberto Martinez. I guess I'm not cut out for these times. It's sad. I guess I'm cut from a different cloth. Today's world is unfortunately like that.”

Zielinski is aware of the noise that his antics have generated, but has responded to that by saying: “Nicola and I approached him, asked for a photo and took it. Neither Cristiano nor we had a problem with it, that's all. I am not interested in what’s going on in social media. For me, Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the top players in the history of football. I felt like taking a picture and I did. That’s it. Why is it unbecoming?”

The Inter midfielder added: “We lost the match but what should I do? Hide in a corner? I went up to him and asked him for a picture and that’s it. That’s what I felt like doing. He (Bak) has the right to have his own opinion. But I don’t think there was anything wrong with it.”

Zielinski is up to 98 caps for his country, as he closes in on becoming an international centurion, and has enough experience under his belt to know how he should and should not be acting. Poland will be back in action on Monday when playing host to Scotland.