When Cristiano Ronaldo was first starting out at Manchester United, back in 2003 following the departure of David Beckham to Real Madrid, he left his team-mates stunned.
Not by his fancy tricks and flicks. Not by his silver boots that sparkled on his sunny debut against Bolton. Instead, they were blown away by the sheer determination of the 18-year-old, who immediately made it clear he wanted to become the greatest player on the planet.
Ronaldo had walked into a dressing room with plenty of big characters. Fierce captain Roy Keane was there. Serial winners Ryan Giggs, Gary Neville and Paul Scholes. Ruud van Nistelrooy, who had won the Premier League Golden Boot the season before and was Sir Alex Ferguson’s undisputed attacking talisman.
But this skinny, scrawny teenager felt he had what it takes to write his own legacy within the game. Over two decades later, saying he’s achieved exactly that would be an understatement.
Ronaldo is, of course, one of the greatest players in history.
His ascent started at United, where his goals and genius helped the club win three Premier League titles in a row between 2007 and 2009, as well as Ferguson’s second – and ultimately last – Champions League trophy.
Determined to fulfil a childhood dream, he departed Old Trafford in 2009 for Real Madrid. At the Bernabeu he became a club icon, scoring 450 goals and claiming four Champions League titles. His rivalry with Lionel Messi, of Barcelona, enchanted world football. The duo reached such dizzying, unbelievable highs it’s hard to see anyone else ever doing the same.
Since leaving Spain, there have been spells with Juventus, back at United, and now Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia. While the pace and sharpness of his prime is now consigned to the past, goals have continued to come. Ronaldo is edging closer to the 1,000 mark, something he believes will truly establish himself as truly the best player in the sport’s entire history. Messi has a World Cup – but he’ll have this.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s international future is shrouded in uncertainty amid his Portugal row
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GETTY
Cristiano Ronaldo always felt he was destined to be a superstar (pictured after joining Manchester United in 2003)
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GETTYNobody in Saudi questions Ronaldo. He is an unofficial poster boy for the country and the league’s best-paid player.
When it comes to Portugal, however, there has long been frustration and anger among supporters that Ronaldo is allowed to do whatever he wants. That for all their younger attacking talent, they still turn a fading force in the hope he’ll conjure one last magical spell.
It was clear at the World Cup back in the summer that Roberto Martinez didn’t have the courage to drop Ronaldo. Everybody could see the lumbering, slow figure at the tip of their attack was holding them back. Effectively, they were playing 10 vs 11. You don’t win the game’s greatest prize that way.
Finally, however, it seems as though Ronaldo’s grip has loosened. There is even a possibility that fans have already seen him grace the international stage for the last time.
Five things to know about Cristiano Ronaldo | GETTY/GB NEWS
A row is rumbling on. New Portugal boss Jorge Jesus, who previously managed the 41-year-old at Al-Nassr, recently left the veteran on the bench for the entirety of a 2-1 win over Norway.
And Ronaldo, typically, is far from happy.
He has walked out on his country promising to tell the ‘truth’ but the simple, bitter fact is that he can’t accept that time has defeated him. That Goncalo Ramos, who is 16 years his junior, represents the better option. That Portugal have other talismanic figures now, rather than just the one.
The writing has been on the wall for years. At the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, Fernando Santos decided to bench Ronaldo because he felt he was holding his nation back. When they exited at the hands of Morocco, it was Santos, rather than his aging, waning captain, who was cast out and forced to be the scapegoat.
Goncalo Ramos is now ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo in the Portugal pecking order | GETTYDue to his goalscoring exploits in Saudi, a league Ronaldo claims is as competitive as Ligue 1 despite everybody knowing that’s drivel, he made his way into Martinez’s squad for the 2024 European Championships.
That, really, should have been the end.
Ronaldo was indulged that summer. He wasn’t substituted and played every minute. The consequence was no goals, and Portugal exited after losing to France on penalties at the quarter-final stage.
Then, of course, came this year’s World Cup.
Cristiano Ronaldo has caused a storm by walking out of Portugal’s camp | GETTY
Ronaldo bagged a brace against Uzbekistan and decided to boldly proclaim he was ‘back’. He felt netting twice against the minnows was proof he’s still the same player that electrified world football during his prime.
Except, after those goals and a penalty against Croatia aside, he found himself powerless to prevent their elimination. Portugal lost to Spain in the round of 16 and, knowing his last chance to win the World Cup was gone, the captain cried on the field in devastation.
Nobody is denying what Ronaldo has given Portugal. He has a staggering 234 caps, having always made himself available for selection. His total of 146 goals is outrageous, too.
But the same drive and determination he’s always possessed is now his hubris. It makes him difficult. It makes him petulant because everybody, barring himself, knows his time is up.
Ronaldo should accept that Portugal are better without him. That stat-padding in Saudi Arabia does not entitle him to a place in Jesus’ starting XI.
Except he just can’t. It’s not in his DNA. His greatest strength has become his biggest weakness and it’s a sad end to one of football’s greatest servants.
