Cristiano Ronaldo was a great player. But he isn't any more. It's a truth that has been staring at the face of world football for close to five years now, but Portugal refuses to believe it. And so do his millions of fanatics across the world.
On Wednesday, after Leo Messi set the stage on fire with his hat-trick, a 41-year-old Ronaldo pulled Portugal down once again. As he has been doing over the last four years — his last goal in a major competition (World Cup or Euros) came against Ghana from a penalty in the 2022 World Cup group stage.
Over 98 minutes at Houston, 25 touches, 0 shots on target, hardly any participation in build-up play — these are bullet points that indicate how the mighty has fallen. Ronaldo's greatest attribute as a central striker — an avatar that he had cultivated in the second phase of his career at Real Madrid — was about his ability to be a physical beast who could take on defenders at the dying stages, conjuring up magical, high-adrenaline goal rush.
But against DR Congo, when the desperate crosses flew in trying to break the 1-1 deadlock, Ronaldo was nowhere. The defenders are no Diego Godin, Leonardo Bonucci or Gerard Pique, but it seemed Ronaldo simply didn't have the belief he could take them on. He merely waited, hoping that the defence would spill one on its own for him to recreate his photogenic celebration moment after becoming the first player to score in six World Cups. But it didn't happen.
When Ronaldo had left the stage after the 2022 quarterfinal loss to Morocco with tears in his eyes, unable to meet a cross in the dying stages which he would have headed home in his sleep at his pomp, there was a tinge of sadness. But what felt like tragedy at that stage with the protagonist unable to accept that the world order is changing around him, has now transpired into farce. The once heart-and-soul of the Portugal team who carried the team on his shoulders, is now more of a hindrance than a help for a terrific midfield comprising Vitinha, Joao Neves, Bruno Fernandes and Bernardo Silva. On Wednesday, when a ball was played in from the byline towards the latter stages, Ronaldo, instead of attacking the first post, merely tried to do the spectacular, messing up a simple tap-in for Bruno.
Former French legend Thierry Henry summed it up when he said: “One thing that's important, the team needs to score. Not YOU need to score…Because he wants to score, he goes in the path of the back pass. And that's my thing: The team needs to score. Not you.”
It's not that Portugal don't have options upfront. A smart, young striker from the PSG stable like Goncalo Ramos or a physical entity like Rafael Leao would have been an easy fit. But it can't be if it's Portugal, because no one sells shirts like Ronaldo.
Dhoni-like situation
There is a parallel back home that will probably simplify the situation for the cricket-minded. Chennai Super Kings are still one of the most followed sports teams in India and that has a lot to do with MS Dhoni. For four years now, CSK's No. 7 — a Ronaldo fan courtesy his Manchester United allegiance — is nowhere close to his best. Yet, MSD never retires, because the team still doesn't have a 'brand ambassador' of his magnitude.
Dhoni, though, tries his best not to attract limelight when he is not playing — as was the case this year due to injuries. But that isn't the case for Ronaldo. It's his grumpy face that will always be the focus of every camera if the legend is left on the bench.
Portugal's former coach Fernando Santos had to deal with it when he tried giving Ronaldo the bench-treatment in the latter stages of the last World Cup. And the current boss Roberto Martinez is not even ready to walk that path. Incidentally, Martinez had the same problem with Eden Hazard when he was the Belgium boss. During the last World Cup, when he should have dropped an immensely underperforming Hazard, he made the then Real Madrid winger the captain. Result, a talented Belgium side went home from the group stages.
In this World Cup, Portugal have the cushion of qualifying for Round of 32 as one of the eight best third-placed teams. Given the quality of personnel that Martinez has, he may not need that option to go deep in the tournament. Provided he chooses his pieces as per current form and not brand value. There is, after all, light at the end of Ronaldo tunnel, and it's for the team management to see it, and act upon it.
