The World Cup 2018 in Russia needed a match like Portugal v Spain to help fans forget all the pre-tournament worries and controversies and learn to love the game again.

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Well, Portugal and Spain delivered, with Cristiano Ronaldo scoring a hat-trick and ruthlessly announcing himself in this year's World Cup.

Ronaldo often is perceived as distant and arrogant, and that image wasn't helped when the day before his opening game it was revealed that he had reportedly agreed to accept an €18.8 million fine and a suspended jail term to settle tax evasion charges in Spain.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MhQNfZyJrf4

But a simple gesture can change all those preconceptions.

People have been sharing an old clip of Ronaldo interacting with two mascots. It's not from this year's World Cup, but fans have been appreciating it nonetheless.

Lining up for the anthems before kick-off, two mascots who were stood in front of Ronaldo couldn't believe their luck, with the cameras catching the pair of them looking up at Ronaldo beaming.

Ronaldo noticed their smiles, and flashed a grin back at them. A sweet gesture considering the scrutiny he is about to be put under.

https://twitter.com/danielstorey85/status/1007883514426155009

Watch the kid on the left as Ronaldo smiles at him.

https://twitter.com/saintclass/status/752660729224843264?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.joe.co.uk%2Fsport%2Feveryone-is-melting-over-how-these-kids-reacted-to-cristiano-ronaldo-72801

https://twitter.com/Tweddds/status/1007903086701105152

https://twitter.com/_DaveEdwards/status/1007722859710607360

https://twitter.com/GaryLineker/status/1007907273362980864

This isn't the first time Ronaldo has defied expectations. Check out this video of him stepping off the bus to meet a fan before leaving for the World Cup.

https://twitter.com/ESPNFC/status/1006105441984765953

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Again, small gestures, but enough to win over fans around the world.

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Radio Times staff

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