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Eclipsed Once Again: Ronaldo’s Time to Shine for Portugal is Running Out

Hasan Saiyid, July 1 2010,
The most surprising thing about Spain’s 1-0 win over Portugal was not how space was at a premium during the round of sixteen encounter or how Fernando Torres struggled to find his feet. It was how unnoticeable Cristiano Ronaldo was, even by his high standards of anonymity.

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Even his remonstrations against teammates operated on the periphery, much like his attempts at orchestrating the Portuguese attack.

Spain’s patient game of picking apart Portugal was testament to their self-belief.  Portugal’s lack of spark was testament to how sorely they missed Ronaldo’s supposed flair.  Even in an era where club football has usurped international football, the international stage is where iconic moments are inscribed in the global consciousness.  Those with passing interest in football, who do not follow the rigours of a European club season, will always remember the World Cup’s most glittering moments.  These include Brazil’s emphatic 4-1 win over Italy in 1970, the year in which the World Cup was broadcast in colour for the first time.  They also include Maradona’s irresistible run against the English in 1986, which culminated in one of the most remarkable goals scored at a World Cup. 

 

Perhaps given that Ronaldo is still 25, it is unduly premature to expect such moments of brilliance from him.  However, what we can—and should—expect is a modicum of competence.  Ronaldo is a very good footballer, but he is also a chronic underachiever for Portugal.  For club he is brilliance personified.  For country he resembles a show pony.  Not once against Spain did Ronaldo look menacing.  He was neutralized so effectively—by Carles Puyol et al.—that at one stage I thought he had been quietly substituted.  For one who has been touted as Luis Figo’s successor, Ronaldo simply just did not turn up when Portugal needed him.  True, Figo played alongside the golden generation of Portuguese footballers, which included the class of Rui Costa, for example.  However, even allowing for that fact, Ronaldo exists alongside the likes of Deco and Simao Sabrosa—he is not exactly leading Malta into attack. 

Despite the fact that this World Cup is taking place in Africa, it is Ronaldo’s, not Didier Drogba’s, expectant face that ends the famous “write the future” Nike commercial.  Ronaldo has been consummately manufactured for the big stage, but it is on the biggest stage that he continually fluffs his lines.  After a decent Euro2004, Ronaldo’s big moments were supposed to have been Euro2008 and this World Cup.  Both ended in relative disappointment for him and Portugal.  His one highlight from this World Cup is a goal in the 7-0 drubbing of North Korea.  However, the way that game painlessly progressed for Portugal, even the one-time Portuguese great Eusebio, now 68, could have scored had he played. 

The real stars of the World Cup so far have been Spain’s David Villa and Argentina’s Lionel Messi, and it is fitting that the former was the one who provided the Spanish winner against Portugal.  Ronaldo has been a non-story.  The most expensive player in the world, Ronaldo now has perhaps a couple of tournaments left to register his status as an all-time great.  Messi, who is perennially compared to Ronaldo, has already embarked on that journey. The Argentinean is the reigning FIFA World Player of the Year and Ballon D’Or winner, and has provided a noticeable spark in Argentina’s attack.  If he continues to go from strength to strength and ends up winning the trophy on July 11th, Ronaldo risks wilting in the diminutive Argentinean’s shadow.
 

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