2024-07-11 17:41:56
- Cristiano doesn’t want to give way in front of the young soccer players, but realizes that it has come the weather
- Before our eyes, the superstar struggles to accept the fact that he is no longer in top form and the clock is ticking
Tension, disappointment, tears, anger, anger… Emotions controlled Cristiano Ronaldo more than he controlled the ball in his last European Championship. The 39-year-old superstar struggles before our eyes to accept the fact that the clock is ticking and we watch the last major performances of his professional football career after 20 years in which he dominated as one of the two greatest players of his generation. A record breaker, serial champion, multiple Ballon d’Or winner, Cristiano doesn’t want to give up on young players, but he also realizes that the time has come.
Portugal were knocked out by France in the quarter-finals of the European Championship, with Ronaldo finishing the tournament without a field goal and with one assist despite having 23 shots on goal. Naturally, the blame for Portugal’s failure fell squarely on him and his big ego. The star’s personal pain at the dashed hopes of a glittering triumph is no less, as he desperately wanted to win the Euros for the second time in his glittering career and especially after announcing that this would be his last such championship – for the next one it will be 43 years.
Cristiano hasn’t been in top form in recent years. He spent much of the last two seasons in the revamped Saudi Arabian League. He has not played in the Champions League, club football’s highest forum, since 2022. His international career appeared to be coming to a natural end as early as the World Cup 18 months ago, when he was left out of the starting line-up for the match against Switzerland. Ronaldo had only scored once in the tournament so far from the penalty spot. And his replacement, striker Gonzalo Ramos, scored three times in just over an hour. Everyone knew – the page was turned. But… in the same game, with the Portuguese leading 5-0 thanks to Ramos, instead of everyone cheering the new hero, the crowd chanted Ronaldo’s name.
Portugal national team manager Roberto Martinez and his employers cannot afford to bypass Ronaldo, they can only wait for him to decide his own future. Cristiano enjoys such a titanic status that he really only has to make a way for the youngsters in the national team of Portugal.
He and compatriot Pepe have been dubbed “the two old men of football” by Gary Lineker in BBC Sport, with Ronaldo having been part of the national team since 2003 and Pepe since 2007.
And in fact, Ronaldo’s teammates on the field played with a heavy duty to their captain – to serve him and show respect at all times.
Portugal reached the quarter-finals, but it was not an easy struggle for the 2016 winners. The team experienced a real shock in Frankfurt against Slovenia, who were playing in their first European Championship in 24 years. Regular time and extra time finished 0-0, with Cristiano Ronaldo missing a penalty in the 105th minute. In the break between the two extra periods, the striker even cried and had to be comforted by his teammates. In the penalty shootout, the “sailors” were unerring, with Ronaldo making amends with a goal.
Yes, he will never be out of a job, but he also probably fears having to give up the sensational feeling of triumphing in the spotlight in the biggest game. Saudi Arabia is currently trying to develop an entire top-level soccer league around his aura. At the same time, the Portuguese suffered heavy losses, as together with his team “Al Nasser” only weeks ago they failed to win the Cup of the King of Saudi Arabia, which went to the hegemon of the country “Al Hilal”. The lack of a trophy once again made Ronaldo cry, who hates losing and really doesn’t hide his bitterness when it happens.
However, it is with his frantic thirst to always drink from the cup of success that he achieves much. Ronaldo has over 630 million followers, twice as many as Beyoncé, but to be clear, we should say that if Cristiano’s Instagram was a country, it would be the third largest in the world. His influence is undeniable, so many eyes are on him – on his victories and on his mistakes.
After the match with France and the elimination in the quarter-finals, Cristiano wrote on X (formerly Twitter):
“We wanted more. We deserved more. For us. For each and every one of you. For Portugal. We are grateful for everything you have given us and everything we have achieved so far. On and off the pitch I am sure that this legacy will be honored and will continue to build. Together.”
Indeed, the most talked about aspect of Ronaldo’s performance was how visible his emotions were. Suffering, exhilaration and frustration have never been so on display. Critics have slammed his behavior as embarrassing, pathetic and childish, but as ex-footballer and current sports psychology major Paul McVeigh told Mirror Football, Cristiano has never been afraid to show his emotions, unlike most elite footballers.
“At the end of the day, he’s human – McVeigh emphasizes. – He makes mistakes, however exceptional and phenomenal he was. He knows what he’s doing. He has the full [пакет]: A, talent to do it, B, athleticism to do it, and C, experience to do it. He’s still dangerous.”