Is he too big to not stay on the field? It’s starting to get right on my tits with the storming off down the tunnel
The comprehensive Ronaldo thread
- Thread starter Red the Bear
- Start date
No, it isn't. His decline in the last couple of years has been brutal.
Only 5 non-penalty goals in 5 tournaments. 0 knockout stage goals and 0 knockout stage assists.
Abysmal end for an extremely disappointing world cup career.
I feel bad for him. It's been a horrible year for him, even though he's been a cnut with us.
Completely agree. Incredibly self centred of him. Be there with your team mates and fans. Bruno was.
Weather was too hot for him and he has a skin condition. Thin skinned.
Is that Tiger King besides him?SUUUUUIIIIIII
Probably should put a spoiler here, NSFW
Al Nassr President on Whatsapp : "Siu monday *wink emoji*"
I'd say his decline in the last couple of years is evident but his decline over last 6 months has been brutal. Not sure what he does next but this WC exit must be heartbreaking and he'll take some time to think about next step in his career. It's probably Saudi Arabia and not retirement but we'll see.
Is he really going to where himself out by going to Saudi arabia?
What a sad fecking end for such a illustrious career.
What a sad fecking end for such a illustrious career.
I really don’t understand this.
At soon to be 38 how is it a sad end to a career to go secure the bag in Saudi Arabia?
Every player would love to sniff half of the career he has had.
There's no hope to catch Messi's balón d'or and golden boot records now. What's to play for in Europe? He'd have to warm the bench for any top team and I'm not sure his narcassism allows him to accept that.
It's a pathetic end, as you pointed out. But it's glorious to watch.
He's one of the best ever, top 5 in fact so for me to see him to go out like this and go to some gulf league for the sake of some extra cash feels extremely wrong.
I know some other greats met the same fate as well(pele and Beckenbauer coming to uscomes to mind) but for the career that he's had and the money that he's made it just feels wrong.
I feel like he could have had a much more graceful end to his career had he accepted his decline more graciously, or had he not actually thrown a temper tantrum in the summer losing out on pivotal pre season time which would be crucial for him at this stage.
maybe I'm having too much of a romantic view of things but that's the way it is.
Yeah, that seems to have done him in somewhat, the fact that Messi could reach his cl goal tally is what I think made go nuts this summer.
no chance
Can't help feeling a bit sad. Definitely the end of an era
Not even bantering anymore but I do fear for his mental state/wellbeing if Argentina wind up winning the World Cup...
Would truly be the final coup de grace in what's been a nightmarish 2022 for him personally and professionnally
Would truly be the final coup de grace in what's been a nightmarish 2022 for him personally and professionnally
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Are you okay mate?
Thoughts and prayers, I hope you’ve got the support you need at this difficult time.
Why are you so weird.
Now that’s irony if ever I seen it.
Prior to the tournament I wanted him and Portugal out, however I felt really bad for him today. Concerned about his mental stability after the 12 months he's had.
I feel that it would be the best choice for him. That or any MLS club.
Not from a money point of view, but he really needs a break and be away from the (european) spotlights for a while. Everything that could go wrong went wrong for him. People can call it karma but as much as I can't stand him, it's not funny anymore to take the piss out of him.
And no, I'm not joking.
It's pretty tragic how it's ending for him.
It's sad in the context of his narcissistic personality- plenty of great players from Pele and Best to Bale and Iniesta have accepted a windfall to play in an almost ambassadorial capacity when they realised they couldn't offer anything more at the highest level.
The difference is that Ronaldo doesn't have the self awareness to realise that he is a pale shadow of a professional footballer these days (let alone the top class footballer he was) which is what makes it sad. As a United fan, I dislike the guy but it's actually more pitiful than funny to witness a great career ending with such little dignity and grace.
Think he'll still play in 2026.
Its in America right? Both him and Messi will probably be playing in the MLS by then, so I think they'll both be 'ambassador players' for that tournament.
Its in America right? Both him and Messi will probably be playing in the MLS by then, so I think they'll both be 'ambassador players' for that tournament.
So the knockout goal thing suddenly becomes a big deal when Messi opens his account in such games. Extremely low blow from the media there.
He can add another 200 or 400 million to his bank account and it won't make him any happier. Until this season, I would have felt sympathy for how his career is ending, but the man became so unlikable this season with the Piers interview being the cherry on top of it all. I find it impossible to feel anything resembling compassion for someone like him who is so completely self-absorbed.
nah, it was always used as a argument in the club CL debate for Ronaldo and against Messi. Now that the same argument in a different tournament works against Ronaldo it’s suddenly a low blow?
I wanted him knocked out of the tournament. Now that’s it’s happened and I watched him walk off the pitch crying it feels a bit hollow tbh. Seeing him win it would have been insufferable, but I don’t take joy from this either now.
Not to be that guy, but Messi hadnt either until a week ago.
There is nothing wrong with not winning the world cup. It does not diminish his legacy in any way.
I have no sympathy for him. His career is coming to a natural close. He is two months from his 38th birthday ffs.
He hasn't just fallen off a cliff. He's been in gradual decline for 4 years. And you know what, there is absolutely nothing wrong with that.
There is nothing shitty about the way his career is ending. Even if he goes to Saudi Arabia.
I supported every team Portugal faced when he came up with that interview. His family(his woman and sister's posts last night were just silly) still continue to delude him. I am unsure who can tell him the truth.
I have no sympathy for him. His career is coming to a natural close. He is two months from his 38th birthday ffs.
He hasn't just fallen off a cliff. He's been in gradual decline for 4 years. And you know what, there is absolutely nothing wrong with that.
There is nothing shitty about the way his career is ending. Even if he goes to Saudi Arabia.
I supported every team Portugal faced when he came up with that interview. His family(his woman and sister's posts last night were just silly) still continue to delude him. I am unsure who can tell him the truth.
Yeah they both posted rants disparaging everyone from the referee to the manager to the Portugese football association for the "disrespect" that they showed Ronaldo by having the audacity to not make him a starter.
Thats probably the first time ever we are going to see a planted tree playing as a striker if it happens. He moves like a geriartric now, cant imagine what happens in the next 4 years.
Kind of felt the same
Ok, first no serious club will given him a contract now on current terms. He is done at highest level, doesn’t mean he can’t score goals but again these days he will not fit in any of the top club system as a regular
He has two choices and it all depends on what he wants…
1) Go to Saudi for 3 years, make 500m and be the first footballer to be worth 1B (doubt anyone is a billionaire while still playing, ignore the prince)….. And he can brag about it as I am sure it will satisfy his big ego..
2) Be like a Zlatan and accept a part time role and salary package like him that is based on Low base salary (2m, yeah Low I know) and rest on goals and bonuses….
I am sure this will work for few CL clubs
One thing is a given, he is done at highest level. He had an amazing career and doubt many will come close to him but all things eventually comes to an end. He just needs to accept it gracefully.
I didn’t want him out of the tournament (wanted Bruno & Dalot to do well) but after that daft as feck interview, with him showing absolutely zero self awareness, it was satisfying to see even his national coach follow ETH’s lead.
I’m sure he’s not vindictive but still, that must’ve felt good for ETH too after being so unfairly slagged off and disrespected like that. It certainly vindicates him.
But now his World Cup is over in such fashion, and it appears that despite his claims about the Summer, no top club wants him, you can’t help but feel a little sorry for him. Personally and professionally it’s been an absolutely brutal 6 months, even if he’s been the main architect of the professional part.
Will forever blow me away that he didn’t see this time at United as his place to wind down, accept a lesser role and enjoy his last few years.
Maybe, just maybe, after the indignity of the past few months, it might be enough to temp him back to the Portuguese league and Sporting. Yes he’d have to take an incredible pay cut, but it’s a European league and a former home where he just might be able to win back a bit of the respect he’s lost of late and finish his career with grace.
More likely though he’d fall out with everyone there too once he needs to get his bum on the bench for half an hour, so maybe Saudi is the answer. Get filthy rich, decide yourself how many minutes you play.
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It’s always been a criticism against both players when compared to Pele/Maradona, if you’ve been paying attention
That sounds about right unfortunately .