Meet Conor McGregor’s new BFF (just don’t tell Trump)
ONE is a brutal world leader with a history of violently battering his enemies into submission. The other is... Vladimir Putin. MMA champion Conor McGregor was the personal guest of Mr Putin for the World Cup final yesterday, and didn’t waste the chance to grab this photo opportunity with the Russian president.
McGregor, from Crumlin, later gushed that Mr Putin ‘is one of the greatest leaders of our time’.
The Notorious was first photographed eating a plate of food as he watched France’s 4-2 victory over Croatia.
While most fans wore T-shirts and loose clothes, McGregor came dressed in a tight-fitting three-piece checked blue suit, white shirt and brown tie.
Following the match, he took to social media to post a photo of himself with Mr Putin and offered his thanks. ‘Today I was invited to the World Cup final as a guest of Russian President Vladimir Putin,’ he wrote.
‘This man is one of the greatest leaders of our time and I was honored [sic] to attend such a landmark event alongside him.
‘Today was an honor for me Mr. Putin. Thank you and congratulations on an amazing World Cup.’
Another photo shows McGregor laughing as he tells Mr Putin a story.
Back home, there were plenty of celebrations in Ireland despite the fact we didn’t make it to Russia, let alone the final. Pockets of soccer-mad tourists and expats from both France and Croatia gathered across the country to cheer on their respective countries.
Tiffany Modilenet, from Paris, and Anna Mondolont, from Lille, celebrated the victory with colleagues in the bar they work in off Dublin’s George’s Street and said they couldn’t ‘believe it’ after their team lifted the coveted trophy.
In Dicey’s Garden bar on Harcourt Street, French fans clustered around screens, singing loudly as it became apparent that the title was headed home to Paris.
Salomé Zirnheld, a 21-year-old from Lyon, was visiting Ireland with friends and the group celebrated in Dicey’s.
‘Today was a very important day, we are so proud of France,’ she said. ‘We are so happy to be in Ireland to represent our country.’
The Croats claimed lower O’Connell Street, clambering up lampposts as a red flare covered the supporters below in a haze of smoke. Teacher Vida Novak was celebrating her third anniversary of moving to Ireland by cheering the team on, alongside her fellow countrywoman, accountant Ivana Litre.
‘Second place is still very good so we are really proud of them,’ Ms Litre said.
‘We are so unbelievably proud,’ Ms Novak added.
‘It’s really something that happens so rarely.
‘One of the greatest leaders of our time’