Portugal marched into the Quarter Finals after a resounding victory over fancied Switzerland. However the most remarkable part of Portugal’s performance was the fact that it was earned without their mainstay Cristiano Ronaldo, who in a controversial move was excluded from the starting line up, by Portugese Manager Fernando Santos.
Cristiano Leaves Alone
Fernando Santos’ decision was completely vindicated when Ronaldo’s replacement the 21 year old Gonçalo Ramos scored a brilliant hat-trick. Ronaldo did make an appearance at the fag end of the match but it was rather irrelevant considering the state of the game. After the impressive victory, as his team mates were rejoicing on the field, Ronaldo quietly left for the change rooms waiving to the crowds, all alone. A team once synonymous with Cristiano Ronaldo had come out of his shadow. However many across the world raised questions on his exclusion and expressed their frustration on the manner in which Ronaldo had been treated.
His Attitude questioned
The last few weeks have been troublesome for the player who holds most of the records in International Football and is one of the Sporting Icons of the world. Cristiano Ronaldo’s attitude alongwith his form have been questioned time and again, which led to his club Manchester United terminating his contract just before the World Cup began. Portugal’s loss to South Korea in the group stages also led to an issue between Fernando Santos and Ronaldo, which might have led to his exclusion from the starting eleven.
Leaving the Arena : A Difficult Task
Cristiano Ronaldo : A Great Sporting Icon
To put it in a nutshell, Cristiano Ronaldo is without a club and is on the verge of losing his position in his National Team as well. Difficult times indeed for a player of such enormous stature. So is it time for Ronaldo to leave or he should have left may be a year or two ago. The fact is that It is very difficult to leave the stage which has given you massive recognition, popularity and wealth. It is heart wrenching to leave the arena you owned, but the arena is hard hearted, where the new is welcomed for the old and if there is a delay, the same arena, the same stage becomes unforgiving, causing immense pain. This is the same pain which Ronaldo and his die hard fans are going through.
Lets Respect The Player
Sporting history however has seen several turnarounds and we never know, this World Cup may yet see, the brilliance of Ronaldo, though one outcome is certain that this would be Ronaldo’s swan song, his last appearance in a World Cup. The man has so much to offer still, outside the playing arena if not inside it, and it would be in Portugal’s interest to ensure that remains around to mentor the team of the future.
CR7 is now CR37, but still worth his weight in gold. Lets respect the player for his exceptional talent and for all the great memories he made for his fans and Football lovers across the World.
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