Is Ronaldo PAST IT? Portugal’s tearful talisman wants confronting

Cristiano Ronaldo does not seem the type to put his feet up and watch a film when he could be going through his umpteenth workout of the day, but this week he really should break that routine and put High Fidelity on his hotel room television.

As Rob, played by John Cusack, and Barry, portrayed by Jack Black, discuss the ‘top five musical crimes perpetrated by Stevie Wonder in the 80s and 90s’, Barry asks: ‘Is it in fact unfair to criticise a formerly great artist for his latter-day sins? Is it better to burn out or fade away?’

He may lack self-awareness but that line from the 2000 movie would surely hit home for Ronaldo after the tearful psychodrama – or should that be farce? – of his performance in Portugal’s penalty shootout win over Slovenia on Monday, which set up a quarter-final against France on Friday.

For his country, for his team-mates and – most importantly – for himself, it is time for Ronaldo to call it a day at the end of this tournament. Forget the 2026 World Cup, Cristiano. Get out now before your legacy starts to be tainted.

The light has been fading for some time. In his final game for Manchester United, a 3-1 defeat at Aston Villa in November 2022, Ronaldo was involved in a wrestling match with Tyrone Mings, a player who would not have laid a glove on the great forward in his prime.

He was dropped at the last World Cup and Portugal promptly beat Switzerland 6-1 with a hat-trick for Goncalo Ramos, who had been brought into the XI. That should have been a sign and yet on he goes. The statistics at this tournament make sobering reading: 20 shots, one missed penalty, no goals – and yet apparently, no chance of being dropped.

Ronaldo has outlasted Fernando Santos, the coach who dropped him in Qatar, and Roberto Martinez is surely mindful of that as he sidesteps the issue. But someone must confront Ronaldo, for goodness’ sake. Otherwise we may see him chugging about up front at World Cup 2042, 57 years old and still defying any Portugal coach to drop him.

Ronaldo’s uncontrollable tears after his spot-kick in normal time was saved by Jan Oblak pointed to a man on the ragged edge of emotional control. Most players would have been taken off for their own state of mind. Not Ronaldo.

In some ways, it is wonderful that he still cares this deeply. Ronaldo has 211 caps, 130 goals and helped Portugal win Euro 2016 – the only major trophy in their history. Where his great rival Lionel Messi had a complicated relationship with Argentina for much of his career, Ronaldo’s passion for Portugal has never been compromised.

So why continue? Why put himself through a situation where his powers are waning to this degree? A man who terrified the world’s greatest centre-backs struggling to escape one who plays for Udinese and another for Sochi, and thrashing free-kick after free-kick into the mocking Slovenian supporters? What is the point? His place in the pantheon is long since assured.

If Ronaldo cannot imagine a life without football, it is understandable. This has been the centre of his existence ever since he was able to kick a ball. It has brought him adoration, fame and wealth on an unimaginable scale. Is the reality of retirement simply too painful to contemplate? 

‘Even the strongest people have their [bad] days,’ said Ronaldo soon after his side had moved into the last eight. ‘I was at rock bottom when the team needed me most.

‘Sadness at the start is joy at the end. That’s what football is. Moments, inexplicable moments. I feel sad and happy at the same time.’

Ronaldo referenced ‘strength’ in those remarks and this is a time for strength all round. Martinez and those running Portuguese football must be strong enough to realise that if they are to regain the title of European champions from them by Italy three years ago, they can rely on Ronaldo no longer. And Ronaldo himself needs to be strong enough to know that his best chance of lifting another trophy with his country is to remove himself from the firing line.