The World Cup is one thing. The Kings Cup is a completely different animal, and right now the two are colliding in the best way possible. Portugal-Spain was always going to be appointment viewing on its own merits, but throw in the fact that PMT has apparently attached its Kings Cup fortunes to Cristiano Ronaldo and the GOAT, and you've got a watch party with stakes nobody outside Barstool would understand.
And because I want to beat the best in the world I need Portugal and THE GOAT Ronaldo to beat Spain. If the US wins we want to slay the king and that is CR7. Thats the USA way
That's the vibe across the Barstool office today. Kayce Smith name-checked the crew getting fired up behind Portugal before kickoff, and Pardon My Meme flat out declared today the day they take down Ronaldo. Whatever the internal Kings Cup bracket actually rewards, Portugal winning is apparently the preferred outcome, and that means 90 minutes of screaming at a TV for reasons that have nothing to do with actual World Cup standings.
Pardon My Meme's declaration that today's the day they take down Ronaldo, Kings Cup style.
None of that mattered much once the ball actually got kicked, though. Ronaldo showed up to the stadium in Dallas doing his best Drake impression, sunglasses on, head tilted back like he was hearing "Where She At" in his own head, and it was the kind of main-character entrance you'd expect from a guy playing in his fifth World Cup.
Ronaldo strolling into the venue in Dallas, looking every bit the main character.
But the real story on the pitch wasn't Ronaldo, it was Diogo Costa. Portugal's keeper came up with back-to-back ridiculous saves to keep Spain off the board, the kind of sequence that swings momentum and shuts up a building in about four seconds. Barstool's account caught the sequence live, and it's the clip everyone's going to be replaying regardless of how the Kings Cup shakes out.
Diogo Costa stringing together two straight world-class saves to deny Spain.
Whether it's the internal office bracket or the actual World Cup, Portugal-Spain has a way of making everybody care more than they probably should. Ronaldo's still the draw, Costa's making the highlight reel, and Barstool's rooting section is fully engaged. That's about as good as a group chat gets.