A third soccer player has removed bottles of Coca-Cola from a Euro 2020 press conference after Cristiano Ronaldo seemingly started a movement.
Per Metro, on Wednesday, June 16, 23-year-old Italian player Manuel Locatelli took two bottles of Coca-Cola off his table and put his own bottle of water in their place.
A video shows that the Sassuolo midfielder, who was awarded UEFA's Star of the Match after Italy's win against Switzerland, even mimicked Ronaldo by remarking: "Agua!" - Portuguese for water - to a press officer.
Health-conscious Portuguese captain Ronaldo defied the tournament sponsor earlier this week, after removing two bottles of the soda from his table while speaking at a post-match conference.
As a result of his stunt, The Guardian reports that the share price of Coca-Cola dropped by 1.6%, from $56.10 each to $55.22, with the market value falling from $242 billion to $238 billion.
Per Metro, Ronaldo previously articulated his distaste for the beverage in a statement made at the Global Soccer Awards ceremony.
Ronaldo stated: "We'll see if my son will become a great footballer. Sometimes he drinks Coca-cola and eats crisps and it irritates me. He knows that.
"Sometimes I tell my son to take a dip in cold water to recover after a run on the treadmill and he says: 'Dad, it’s so cold there.' That’s fine. He is only 10 years old."
But the legendary forward's antagonism towards product placement in sports appears to have provoked a knock-on effect and encouraged other players to act likewise.
For instance, French player Paul Pogba appeared to take a stand against another one of the tour's sponsors.
At a press conference following his team's victory over Germany on June 15, the midfielder removed two bottles of Heineken beer from the table in front of the cameras.
Pogba is a devout Muslim and therefore is not permitted to consume alcohol due to the teachings of the Qu'ran.
A spokesperson for the Euro 2020 competition has since responded to Ronaldo's act of defiance, stating: "Players are offered water, alongside Coca-Cola and Coca-Cola Zero Sugar, on arrival at our press conferences."
Meanwhile, another spokesperson for the soda giant appeared to downplay the issue, stating that: "Everyone is entitled to their drink preferences", with different "tastes and needs."
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