VIVA RONALDO
FourFourTwo UK|June 2024
Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal career was as good as over when he was dropped at the last World Cup - instead, CR7 goes to Euro 2024 as their main man once more, aged 39. Will this be the end, and can he make one last pitch to be considered the greatest?
Ed McCambridge
VIVA RONALDO

'The dream was beautiful, as long as it lasted," wrote Cristiano Ronaldo to his Instagram followers on December 11, 2022. "Unfortunately, that dream ended yesterday." Above was a picture of Portugal's captain and record appearance-maker trudging off the field at Qatar's AI Thumama Stadium, after his country's 1-0 defeat to Morocco in the World Cup quarter-finals.

Aged 37, the crestfallen forward was referring solely to his dream of lifting a World Cup as a player, yet those reading could be forgiven for thinking he actually meant his status as a Portugal player.

It had been a rough month. On the eve of his record-equalling fifth finals appearance, CR7 had agreed to the termination of his Manchester United contract following a spectacularly self-indulgent interview with professional blowhard Piers Morgan that focused on talk of "betrayal" and "lack of respect" shown him by the club and boss Erik ten Hag. Worse still, as a decaying Ronaldo proved increasingly unwilling to recognise his own footballing mortality, rival Lionel Messi had scratched his own World Cup itch.

In Qatar, Ronaldo scored in Portugal's opening match against Ghana, but his reaction to being substituted in the third group game against South Korea drew his manager's ire. "You're in a f**king hurry to sub me off," Ronaldo reportedly snapped at Fernando Santos of the 65th-minute swap.

Santos admitted he "didn't like it one bit" and dropped his skipper for the last 16 clash with Switzerland, the first time in his career CR7 started a knockout game on the bench. Ronaldo's replacement, the younger and more mobile Goncalo Ramos, scored a hattrick as the Selecao rolled the Swiss 6-1.

この記事は FourFourTwo UK の June 2024 版に掲載されています。

7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。

この記事は FourFourTwo UK の June 2024 版に掲載されています。

7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。

FOURFOURTWO UKのその他の記事すべて表示
How Liverpool have changed under new manager Arne Slot
FourFourTwo UK

How Liverpool have changed under new manager Arne Slot

The Reds have had to adapt to life without their legendary boss Jurgen Klopp, But their new managers tactical tweaks showed highly promising early signs

time-read
2 分  |
December 2024
Why Cole Palmer is an absolute genius on a football pitch
FourFourTwo UK

Why Cole Palmer is an absolute genius on a football pitch

Chelsea’s attacking star attracts plenty of mirth for his interviews, but he often displays unrivalled intelligence in the heat of Premier League action

time-read
3 分  |
December 2024
CORINTHIANS X SENNA 2018-19
FourFourTwo UK

CORINTHIANS X SENNA 2018-19

Kit connoisseur Phil Delves looks back at an ultimate 'collab shirt' from South America - one that heralded a black and gold craze

time-read
3 分  |
December 2024
"THE MISSILE SIRENS WOULD START DURING TRAINING, SO WE'D HAVE TO GO INSIDE AND TAKE COVER"
FourFourTwo UK

"THE MISSILE SIRENS WOULD START DURING TRAINING, SO WE'D HAVE TO GO INSIDE AND TAKE COVER"

The Welsh international striker recalls growing up in Africa, humiliation at Derby and air strikes in Israel, not to mention a certain hat-tricks record...

time-read
5 分  |
December 2024
"I SWAPPED SHIRTS WITH ETO'O AFTER MY DEBUT HE PROBABLY USED MINE ON HIS WINDOWS"
FourFourTwo UK

"I SWAPPED SHIRTS WITH ETO'O AFTER MY DEBUT HE PROBABLY USED MINE ON HIS WINDOWS"

The lifelong Magpie opens up about earning Sir Bobby’s trust, his new career in the Middle East, and how Ruud van Nistelrooy knew I wanted to kick him”

time-read
5 分  |
December 2024
"SVEN GOT IN TOUCH TO SEE IF I'D BE KEEN ON PLAYING FOR ENGLAND THAT MADE ME SO PROUD"
FourFourTwo UK

"SVEN GOT IN TOUCH TO SEE IF I'D BE KEEN ON PLAYING FOR ENGLAND THAT MADE ME SO PROUD"

The former Italian shot-stopper tells FourFourTwo about following in his father’s footsteps at Milan and the game that changed Chelsea forever...

time-read
5 分  |
December 2024
Why Thomas Tuchel is the perfect fit for the England job
FourFourTwo UK

Why Thomas Tuchel is the perfect fit for the England job

The new gaffer might not have been born and bred in Barnsley, but he’s long proved himself to be particularly astute in high-profile knockout competitions

time-read
3 分  |
December 2024
GREEN SHOOTS
FourFourTwo UK

GREEN SHOOTS

Less than two years ago, Saint-Etienne were at real risk of relegation to the semi-professional third tier - unthinkable for a club who were the finest in France throughout the 1960s and '70s. Now Les Verts are back in the big time following last term's Ligue 2 play-off success. Oh, and they're also billionaires...

time-read
10+ 分  |
December 2024
Why I love Scottish football
FourFourTwo UK

Why I love Scottish football

The legendary goal-getter recounts his strangest tales, featuring Graeme Souness punch-ups, broken sofas, Duncan Ferguson's errant pigeon and, of course, Gazza...

time-read
10+ 分  |
December 2024
A MATCH WITH THE MONKS THE GREATEST COMPETITION PRIZE EVER
FourFourTwo UK

A MATCH WITH THE MONKS THE GREATEST COMPETITION PRIZE EVER

A globe-trotting FourFourTwo has gone beyond even Tanzania’s borders this month. American fan Matthew Eide of the Far Away Football blog ventured to equally mountainous Bhutan, after winning the most unusual of raffles...

time-read
4 分  |
December 2024