For Cristiano Ronaldo, it was a match which opened and closed with tears and, as soon as he had stepped down a tunnel and into historical past, discovered treasured few being shed for him.
He cried on November 24, when he lined as much as play Ghana and the Portuguese anthem first performed. He cried on Saturday, whereas marching straight off the pitch and neglecting to recollect the followers who had supported the group via a grim defeat to Morocco.
What we witnessed within the intervening 16 days was a dismantling of the parable and aura surrounding a person who has thought-about himself above the nationwide group for therefore lengthy. A participant whose estrangement from his nation was made plain by a meaningless, 200-word Instagram assertion he issued final evening.
Carlos Queiroz and Paulo Bento, the 2 coaches previous Fernando Santos, who has led Portugal right here, have been dismissed — in 2010 and 2014 respectively — amid tensions with Ronaldo. For Santos to have publicly rebuked his captain for reacting poorly to his substitution in opposition to South Korea, 10 days in the past, there actually needed to have been one thing critically questionable in his method and dedication to this group. ‘I did not prefer it in any respect. I actually did not prefer it in any respect,’ mentioned Santos.
The gamers didn’t spell it out however you actually didn’t have to be a mind-reader to know that that they had no blind devotion to CR7 both.
We heard Bruno Fernandes, the de-facto captain, relating the story of Ronaldo’s ill-judged joke about arriving to affix up with the squad in his personal jet, whereas the others slummed it on scheduled flights. We heard Bernardo Silva, reflecting tartly on Ronaldo’s elimination from the beginning XI. ‘We all know tips on how to handle when Cristiano isn’t there,’ he mentioned.
Essentially the most revealing facet of Ronaldo’s trudge from the pitch on Saturday was that the Portuguese gamers didn’t hassle to console him. It was the Moroccans and a pitch invader who stepped up.
Ronaldo had been benched by Fernando Santos following his performances within the World Cup
There have been tantalising hints throughout Ronaldo’s 39-minute walk-on half within the quarter-final of the participant he would possibly nonetheless have been, have been he not drowning in ego. Portugal have been pitiful, a group despatched out by Santos and not using a clue of tips on how to enhance on Spain’s limp capitulation to Morocco. Ronaldo introduced motion, menace and moments of jeopardy for Morocco. He made Portugal higher.
When it was over, the ego was again in cost. After his neglect of the followers as he left, we have been handled to the ideas of his girlfriend, Georgina Rodriguez, attacking Santos via an handle to her man. ‘At this time your buddy and coach made a foul resolution. That buddy for whom you’ve so many phrases of admiration and respect.’
Final evening, it was via Instagram that Ronaldo outlined his personal ideas. ‘I gained many worldwide titles, together with for Portugal, however placing the title of our nation on the most important one on the earth was my largest dream.
‘I battled for it. I fought arduous for this dream. I left every little thing on the pitch. I by no means gave up the combat or dream. I used to be only one extra particular person preventing for everybody’s aim and I might by no means flip my again on my team-mates and my nation. Now, it is time to let historical past inform the story and for everybody to attract their very own conclusions.’
Portugal crashed out of the World Cup quarter-finals after shedding 1-0 to underdogs Morocco
There was one thing profoundly melancholic about certainly one of soccer’s greats — and arguably Portugal’s best — to be reflecting on his 5 World Cups via shrill, small social media posts. However that’s the way it has grow to be for this tragic determine, who has by no means been extra in want of sensible, sincere buddies round him to inform him how unhealthy and excruciating issues look.
You may need anticipated reams of valedictory items from the Portuguese papers yesterday, reflecting on the final stand of a nationwide hero. However A Bola was reporting Luis Figo’s response to studies wherein he had been quoted saying that leaving Ronaldo on the bench was a mistake. ‘In order for you my actual opinions, don’t invent quotes,’ retorted Figo.
‘Chora Portugal’ (‘Portugal weeps’) was Bol’s poster cowl headline, beneath a picture of Ronaldo on his knees on the finish. But it surely was for the group that the nation cried. Not him.
Issues look unhealthy for Ronaldo as he performed what could possibly be his final ever sport in a match
