If this were a case for Inspector Morse, the famous detective would probably hesitate before pointing the finger at Cristiano Ronaldo because of the past admiration he once held for him. The same thing happens with many football followers these days. They defend Cristiano Ronaldo fiercely because of everything he achieved in the past.
They were emotionally attached to him in the past, and that clouded their judgment.
The fact remains, however, that Cristiano Ronaldo has always been a personality who places himself at the centre of attention. His habit of watching himself on the stadium’s giant screen during matches is a classic example of egoism and a constant search for recognition from others.
Football was the stage that made him famous. It was on the pitch that he gained the power to make people know his name and celebrate him.”
“He encourages people and the media to believe and be aware of his wealth, his luxury lifestyle, and the expensive villas in which he spends his time.”
Cristiano Ronaldo is no longer playing well, and international football should follow one simple rule: if you play well, you play; if you do not play well, you do not play.
We now understand why Ronaldo never retired from international football. The standard path for most of the greatest footballers in history is to step away from their national teams years before ending their club careers. It is almost a universal rule.
But we are talking about Cristiano Ronaldo.
I agree that Ronaldo should remain involved with the national team, but as a mentor. He should be someone young players can meet and learn from, someone they dreamed of sharing a dressing room with. He could hold any important role around the squad. He could guide younger players, take photographs with them before matches, and inspire them with his experience.
And if Portugal needed him for the final ten minutes of a World Cup final against England, let him come on, score the winning goal, and retire as a legend.
For a regular person, this would be the perfect ending to the story.
But we are talking about Cristiano Ronaldo, a man who still enjoys the spotlight while damaging his national team on the pitch.
What exactly is happening?
At Manchester United and Real Madrid, Ronaldo enjoyed immense attention. The dribbles, the pace, the goals, the runs into space—cameras followed him from every angle, and he thrived on it.
Now the situation has changed. He no longer scores goals consistently, but he still enjoys seeing himself on the giant screens of World Cup stadiums. That is what remains.
Portugal is not scoring goals, and that is the most important problem.
And Ronaldo occupied his position as of the year 2009, but it is the year 2026, Ronaldo.
The biggest problem comes when Portugal struggles to score. The game has evolved, but Cristiano Ronaldo stands in the same way he did in 2008 or 2011.
Portugal needs to perform well at this World Cup. They arrived as UEFA Nations League champions after defeating Spain in the final. Yet in both the semi-final and the final, Ronaldo was unavailable and did not play for his team.
Portugal also looked good during qualification when Ronaldo was absent.
The national team coach should tell Cristiano Ronaldo that João Félix takes over the left side of the attack and that Ronaldo’s international career will end after the tournament.
It can be now. As they make a deal, this mem is making his team worse. This is a fact I am talking about. There is no if and else.
What Portugal need is a manager with the character to say “no” to Cristiano Ronaldo.
Unfortunately, Roberto Martínez is unlikely to do that.
And that is the problem.
One cannot help but feel sorry for Cristiano Ronaldo. He seems unable to let go of the attention, even when it comes at the expense of the national team he claims to love.
The responsibility now belongs to Roberto Martínez and Cristiano Ronaldo.
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