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DOHA. — Cristiano Ronaldo’s FIFA World Cup dream is over, and probably for good — but is his whole career also reaching the end of the road?
Relegated to the role of substitute by his country after arguing with his coach, Ronaldo’s turbulent tournament never looked likely to have a happy ending – but his tears after Portugal’s quarter-final exit turned out to be an apt summary of his current situation. A shock defeat by Morocco means the 37-year-old is still without a World Cup winner’s medal — the only major honour to elude him — and he is currently a global icon without a club to call home after his angry departure from Manchester United last month.
People were already wondering where he will play his club football next and, while the Portuguese public still adore him, questions over his future with his country will surely follow. Ronaldo left United just before the World Cup started, but his time in Qatar actually began well enough.
The way he won a controversial penalty in Portugal’s first group game against Ghana was described as “total genius” by FIFA, and he converted it to become the first man to score at five World Cups.
Things went downhill fairly swiftly after that, however, and he did not manage a goal in his next two starts before falling out with boss Fernando Santos for his outburst after being substituted against South Korea.
Dropped against Switzerland in the last-16 – the first time since 2008 he had not begun a major tournament game – his young replacement Goncalo Ramos scored a hat-trick and Ronaldo was suddenly the superstar who was only a sub.
That was the way he was used against Morocco too, although he was given most of the second half to make an impact, coming on in the 51st minute with his side 1-0 down. His appearance alone meant he managed to reach another landmark — his 196th international cap equalled the men’s record held by Kuwait forward Bader Al-Mutawa — but he could not mark it with the kind of special moment he has produced so often down the years.
Ronaldo already held the record for most men’s international goals, with 118, but he never looked likely to add to that tally against brilliantly organised opposition.
Ronaldo managed only 10 touches in total and it took until the 91st minute for him to manage a shot, which did not have the power or direction to beat Morocco keeper Bono.
While Ronaldo was always willing and waiting for the right ball into the box, it never came. When Rafael Leao’s 97th-minute cross flew over his head before being headed agonisingly wide by Pepe, Ronaldo sank to his knees in the six-yard box and, with his head in his hands, seemed to know his time was up. — BBC Sport.
Online Reporter