Or as the ageing superstar who tried to defy time and ended up a shadow of his former self?
Ronaldo no longer tracks back during defensive transitions. He lacks the explosiveness and relentless movement that once defined him.
These were observations that many privately acknowledged years ago but hesitated to voice publicly. Now they are impossible to ignore or stay silent about.
Fernando Santos recognised this during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, when he made the bold decision to leave Ronaldo out of the starting lineup.
For the first time, his untouchable status within the national team was challenged.
When Santos departed, a reset button was pushed and Ronaldo returned to being an automatic starter.
Will this criticism motivate Ronaldo to work even harder? Absolutely.
Can he still prove everyone wrong? Realistically, no.
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Would I like him to enjoy a dignified farewell on football’s biggest stage? There is nothing I want more.
