Wales manager Craig Bellamy recently described Cristiano Ronaldo as "beyond a superstar" after observing the Portuguese forward's dramatic arrival at Lisbon airport during a pre-season trip with Burnley. Bellamy, who was working as an assistant to Burnley manager Vincent Kompany at the time, witnessed the high-profile moment when Ronaldo was escorted through the airport with heavy police presence. The event was so secure that the airport was effectively locked down, preventing anyone else from entering or approaching the area. Bellamy and his team were traveling on a chartered coach and had to navigate the airport in a specific route. Upon arrival, they encountered rows of police officers and patrol cars, leading them to believe there had been a security breach or some sort of emergency. They were stuck on the coach for 10 to 15 minutes until a car arrived and a man walked out, grabbed a rucksack from the boot, and was handed the bag by someone else. Bellamy identified the man as Ronaldo. Bellamy described the scene as surreal, noting how Ronaldo was walking alone with police surrounding him and how the airport was completely locked off. Even the police were taking photos, and no one was allowed to approach or bother him. Bellamy called the moment the "coolest walk" he had ever watched and compared it to a scene reserved for "presidents stuff." Bellamy last faced Ronaldo in October 2008, when the Portuguese forward scored twice for Manchester United in a 2-0 Premier League victory over West Ham United at Old Trafford. Now, Bellamy is preparing to manage Wales as they face Ronaldo and the rest of the star-studded Portugal squad in the Nations League A campaign on Thursday night. The challenge is even greater for Wales due to the absence of several key players, including Harry Wilson, Joe Rodon, Karl Darlow, and others. Despite the difficulty of facing Ronaldo, who is entering his 24th year as a senior Portugal international, Bellamy praised the forward's professionalism, his ability to protect himself, and his consistent goal-scoring ability. Ronaldo has confirmed that the 2026 World Cup will be his last, but he has not yet announced his retirement plans. Bellamy remains focused on the immediate challenge of the Nations League match and has urged his players to give their best performance.