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Cristiano Ronaldo’s contribution to the game cannot be questioned. One of the best ever to do it on the pitch.
So when the Portugal captain broke down after appearing in the World Cup final, it was a symbolic end of an era. It was a seminal moment – a true icon of the game departing the biggest international tournament for the final time.
It was Ronaldo’s sixth and final World Cup – and he has 11 goals to his name in the competition. He holds the all-time record for the highest number of goals in the tournament.
But it was a tournament very much, to say the least. The tearful earlier incident served as evidence as to why Ronaldo and Portugal are looking for a new path – although the forward is yet to confirm his full international retirement.
Ronaldo could not hide his emotions even at the full-time whistle
Against Spain, Portugal were conservative and managed to hold off Spain until stoppage time. But going forward something was lost.
This was despite Premier League player of the season Bruno Fernandes as well as Champions League winner Joao Neves and Vitinha in midfield.
Across the squad, Ruben Dias and Nuno Mendes provided more solidity at the back. In Joao Cancelo, Bernardo Silva, Pedro Neto, Rafael Liao, Matthews Nunes, Diogo Dalot and many others, they started regularly among Europe’s elite clubs in the team.
It’s hard not to see Ronaldo’s presence as ‘something missing’. No one expected the same five-time Ballon d’Or winner as Ronaldo this summer, but the numbers back up the idea that Ronaldo has been a hindrance, not a help.
One of the best attacking players in the world has not attempted a single dribble in his five matches at the World Cup this summer. Even Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha, in his 40s, managed a dribble.
Cristiano Ronaldo had a bad World Cup
It sums up a summer where creativity from Ronaldo has been completely non-existent. He had 17 shots in the tournament before creating a chance for a team-mate – and it came 75 minutes after Spain’s exit from the last 16, as he set up a damaging shot for Vitinha that was blocked.
An expected assist (xA) number of just 0.01 in five games, a sign that the elite game has only surpassed Ronaldo.
One thing to note about Kylian Mbappe, Lionel Messi, Erling Haaland and Harry Kane is that while they are pure goalscorers, and some of them taking part in their last World Cup, they also create for teammates.
Ronaldo is a completely different player, but the quartet above are still at the World Cup with their respective teams. Portugal at home.
There were some glimpses of the past. After scoring twice in a 5-0 win over Uzbekistan, Ronaldo lowered his lens and shouted, “I’m back.” But that display turned into an anomaly over the summer.
Ronaldo scored twice against Uzbekistan – but that was just a glimpse of his talent
Ronaldo was benefiting from scoring against a leaky team in their first World Cup. Of the 48 teams in the group stage, only Iraq and Tunisia have scored more goals than Uzbekistan.
His penalty against Croatia eventually gave him the World Cup knockout goal, but with the game in the balance in extra-time and on penalties, Roberto Martínez sent him off. It would have been unthinkable in his prime.
Portugal now have a chance to go ahead. Goncalo Ramos has a fresh start ahead of him after becoming AC Milan’s all-time record signing during the World Cup. He also faces a fresh start at the international level as Ronaldo’s successor to the Portugal No. 1 throne.
Goncalo Ramos is keen to take over as Portugal’s main No.9 option
And there is no doubt that Ronaldo’s shadow will remain in the national team. At Euro 2028, the narrative will be how Portugal will navigate the waters of their tournament without Ronaldo for the first time.
Ramos, or whoever takes over for Ronaldo, will face questions about the icon for years to come. After all, Ronaldo is their Euro 2016 trophy-winning captain.
Ronaldo’s performance at the World Cup will not define his career – but it will follow him. The fact that he never got past the quarter-finals of the competition that Messi won is the stick that many would beat him with in the biggest debate of the modern era.
He is not the only generation player in the modern era who has failed to lead his country to World Cup glory. But he will probably go down as the greatest player never to win a major international award.
