Portugal vs Croatia was one of the select matches in the round-of-16 phase of Euro 2016, only next to a replay of the Euro 2012 finals, Spain vs Italy. It was a shocking snoozefest, except the frantic last few minutes. Croatia were the better side for most of the match and Ronaldo, one of the players to look out for was mostly quiet. Yet, cometh the hour cometh the man, Cristiano Ronaldo did have a telling contribution.
After nearly two hours of boring possession play with no shots on target, Nani found Ronaldo with a beautiful pass in the box and he became the first player to test the keeper. This led to the decisive goal which continues Portugal's topsy-turvy ride in the Euros. It wasn't Ronaldo's best game. Even among all of his recent debatable performances at the Euros. It was, in fact, one of the worst matches at this edition of the Euros.
Yet it was Ronaldo taking home a lot of credit. Not very different from the last group stage game in which Ronaldo dragged Portugal into the knockout rounds.
Probably, this is where Ronaldo proves his point. That is, even if Portugal are knocked out by a less fancy team, say Poland whom they meet in the quarter-finals. No one can take away the title of being one of the world's greatest players from him. His antics are questionable. His onfield and off-field tantrums are vexing. Yet how much ever he is portrayed as a pantomime villain, his performances will always win people over.
He can throw as many mikes into lakes, talk of other teams having small mentalities and yet score a hattrick in the next game and so the world will go on. Point being we have to see him as much as a normal human being as we adulate him and criticise him openly as a superstar. Yes, a normal human being who is among the world's best!
Ronaldo finally steps up in Euro 2016
Portugal vs Hungary was a showing of classic Ronaldo. No look back heel goal check. Powerful header check. With two goals and an assist he shut up all his critics as well as the media. The match and the Euros were literally begging Ronaldo for this kind of a performance.
Obviously, everyone has seen the video of him visibly angry yet subtle as he throws away the reporter's mike into the lake. Haters will loathe him and say that it's his annoying attitude.
Yet, the best of us will do the same when disturbed and wanting to prove a point. The world against us mentality is what often comes in handy to prove everyone wrong. What everyone thinks of as ego, why can't it be seen as a defense mechanism for Ronaldo? Why does the media always judge?
At the final whistle of the Portugal vs Iceland match Ronaldo left the pitch without shaking the hands of any of his opponents and delivered a very bitter, petulant post-match interview which received widespread criticism.
If anything he should’ve given credit to Iceland where it’s due and not such harsh criticism! All in the name of sportsmanship. After all, they are the smallest nation by population at Euro 2016 and this was their first appearance in a major competition.
A few days later, in what was labelled a qualification make or break match vs Austria. All Ronaldo had to do was score. Somehow he managed to miss plentiful chances and it ended 0-0. The highlight of the game being his missed penalty.
Did Ronaldo's missed penalty indicate a small mentality? Wasn't he letting the occasion get to him and succumbing to pressure? The fact that he never "shares” free kick duties with his teammates and continues to ram them into the wall one after the other surely makes a case. Moreover, it doesn't help that he continues to have the air of arrogance around him. He doesn't shy away from aggressively pointing out his teammate's mistakes, does he ?
The big question being, as one of the biggest stars of the beautiful game and a face that people around the globe recognize and relate to football, was it really a good example to set?
A terrific footballer
Nobody in their right mind can deny that he is a terrific football player and is one of the greatest of all time. One can only admire the hard work and dedication he has put in to be the best at whatever he does in a long and fitting career which have taken him from the streets of Madeira to lifting the Champions League trophy with the kings of Europe, Real Madrid.
As a player who shoulders the hopes of an entire nation. One who has had to face the constant pressure of proving himself at the international stage with his national team. A return of 60 goals from 130 appearances is nothing short of phenomenal and is what is expected from him. In fact, with the match against Austria, Ronaldo became the most capped player for the Portuguese national team surpassing Luis Figo.
He is just short of matching Michel Platini’s mark of 9 goals at the Euro finals and is close to the record number of caps gained during the Championship. And already is the highest scorer with Qualification included. Ronaldo is also the first player to score in seven consecutive national tournament finals. Is it because of such superhuman feats of his that we always look at him through these shades of super all the time?
A human after all
Looking at his reaction and hearing his comments it is easy enough to label him as arrogant and selfish. After all, this isn't the first time Ronaldo has trash talked. He may be a talented footballer, but no doubt a lot of people and most of the media see him as an overgrown spoilt child.
His diving antics are well known and don't help his case. Moreover, this isn't even the first major competition where he has caused a stir while on national duty. Nobody can forget him having an on field scuffle which led to the dismissal of England striker Wayne Rooney in the match against the Three Lions. What caused a furore then was the infamous sight of him winking as Rooney walked off the pitch. However, Ronaldo was unperturbed by this as he later defended his actions. In a statement to the BBC he said.
"I don'’t regret what I did because when you play for your country, you defend your colours...I didn't do nothing bad.”
Which is true isn't it? When one has everything on the line it is hard not to play with your heart and be swayed by emotion rather than play with a composed and cool head. He may have a history of stamping or getting into fights verbal as well as physical with his opponents on the pitch, but it is a natural instinct that comes with a competitive mindset.
This same mindset is perhaps why he is always animatedly motioning to his teammates or why he is always in a state of denial of his performance. Don't we often deny any wrong doings and blame it on our friends. Why should Ronaldo be judged on what is basic psychological escapism? Another argument is that being a professional athlete he should be thick skinned but can we really blame a human for not behaving like one?
Also read: Euro 2016: Diego Maradona feels Portugal are too dependent on Cristiano Ronaldo
The point being, didn’t his statements make sense after all? They were after all theoretically correct! All Ronaldo did was probably vent out his frustration after a bad individual performance. He was being honest, being human after all. It doesn’t do his bad boy reputation any good but isn’t his image the one what the media has put up before us. Any rational person can realize that this was normal human behavior.
Also, it doesn't help that he receives all the criticism all the time. Not just from the fans and media, he wasn't even spared by the sarcastic ridicule of football's Godfather Sepp Blatter! Argument being such scrutiny is warranted for someone always in the limelight like Ronaldo. But why forget the essential human element?
But that was the true Cristiano Ronaldo in front of you, the man himself. He doesn’t have any false air of humility around him. Isn’t projecting yourself for what you are accepted human behavior? Yes, he was being displeasing and vexing. But that is because he was angry with himself and his performance. Undeniably, being a global superstar, he should’ve accepted defeat graciously.
Yet, he rose above the ordinary and carried Portugal to the quarters. This is why he probably receives the unwarranted criticism. Because the spotlight is always on him. Because he is always doing superhuman feats. Which is when we fail to see that he has a human side too. But this is why he is and will remain one of the world's football greats.
The aftermath
Portugal are in the round of 8 of the Euros and face Poland. He'll be coming up against Robert Lewandowski who has been quiet, despite his usual goal glut at club level. However, a well-known name in European football he has been unable to cast quite a stir.
At least unlike Ronaldo has! Which clearly shows that Ronaldo is on a level of his own. He may be knocked out. He may go on to the semis and the finals and better yet win it. But would that change anything? Probably make him the Greatest of All Time. But let's not jinx it. The point being he'll still be remembered as fondly as he is now as one of the greats of the game.
It was a historic result for Iceland and a commendable performance against perennial title challengers Portugal. Thus, they had the right to celebrate it!
Ronaldo’s comment invite even more criticism in light of the fact that he himself shamelessly tore his shirt apart to celebrate scoring the “winning penalty” in a shootout or the fourth goal in a 4-1 win in the finals. But as a human being, it is understandable for one to have emotions and become lightheaded when ecstatic or hot headed when angry.
As was the case with the World Cup incident, in the following season Ronaldo and Rooney combined to score 46 goals and helped Manchester United win the Premier League after four years. Even here, Iceland captain Aron Gunnarson admitted that there was no trouble inside the tunnel. In fact, they did exchange shirts and he spoke only well of Ronaldo.
Unlike what the media made out a case of Ronaldo being arrogant and not willing to exchange jerseys and thus adding fuel to the fire of Ronaldo's comments. Which goes to show the fact that just like anyone, he may lose his head a few times and trash talk but he maintains the class that'd be expected of a world-class superstar. All that was missing in his performance against Austria was a goal. No doubt it wasn't classic Ronaldo and it was a shame that he missed a penalty.
That is when we got that show of magnificence from Ronaldo. One assist and two goals. Followed by another major contribution. Football isn't about stats and Ronaldo literally proved it.
He sure hasn't lost his sheen as a superstar, despite the negative publicity. This was apparent by the fan running across to click a selfie with him. The fact that Ronaldo shielded him from security despite the definite mounting security threats in Paris, just won him a few PR points.
People may argue he has bypassed confidence and dedication and has turned it into narcissism. But we have to accept that despite the way he may conduct himself on the pitch, he has achieved a fair bit and is undeniably one of the greats of the game. All that we need to see from him is his performance in his next game, and the next one and another.
Don't score and probably face more of the punditry hate. Agreeably though he'll always be a legend, but probably he'll never be loved in the same way Pele or Maradonna or Best. But this is where I’ll quote the man himself.
“Your love makes me strong”
“Your hate makes me unstoppable”
