‘Time has caught up with crying Cristiano – he appeared weak, egocentric and silly’
Cristiano Ronaldo is supposed to be a sporting icon that future generations want to be.
The ultimate footballer who shows no weakness and is selfless to the end. Not someone who sheds the tears of a clown – because he hasn’t got what he wanted.
Or a bloke who rages against the one person even a superhero like him cannot get the better of – mother nature. Time is that unique opponent no-one can defeat.
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And it caught up with Ronaldo in Frankfurt at Euro 2024. It made him look vulnerable, selfish and stupid in equal measure. The consensus is that life begins at 40.
But the one Ronaldo has had in football is not ending in good grace and distinction. His old rival Lionel Messi crowned his own career with a World Cup.
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(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
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While Ronaldo’s final chapter involves being sacked from Manchester United, taking the Saudi millions and turning what could be his last major tournament into a tale about himself. Just imagine what Slovenian thought when he reduced himself to rubble after missing from the spot in extra time.
Okay, so he scored in the shoot-out to help Portugal reach the quarter finals. But blubbing like a child during a game is the ultimate sign of weakness – and a team more streetwise than Slovenia would have exploited this.
“He’s a constant example for us” said Portugal manager Roberto Martinez. What Martinez has done to get the job managing a talented Portugal side in the first place is somewhat surprising.
(Image: PA)
(Image: PA)
But him defending a man who runs the team instead of him is not. Emotions in sport should be saved until the final whistle has blown.
Unless, of course, your care more about yourself than the outcome of a game, like the Al-Nassr forward does. Ronaldo also stormed out of a TV interview after the match.
He knows his football career is coming to a close and he wants to milk it while he still can. Because Ronaldo’s greatest gift is being the showman who makes the spectacle he’s involved in all about himself.
