Ronaldo lost

Cristiano Ronaldo built his career on timeless standards.

Cristiano Ronaldo has built his career on timeless standards, on a tenacity that defies logic, on a perfection that commands respect. But in Dublin, he has pushed himself into the ugliest of places.

Ronaldo's ugly image

An elbow. An undeserved red card. And a childish chain reaction, so at odds with the great symbol he still strives to be. It was more than just a mistake in a game, but a glimpse into how 40-year-old Ronaldo is confronting something he has never accepted: his own decline.

The arm swing at Ireland's Dara O'Shea was the heated moment of a player who had been dragged too far, too frustrated for too long and no longer had the composure to deal with it. But it was what followed that really damaged Ronaldo's image. He rubbed his fists into his eyes like a child whose toy had been taken away. He clapped sarcastically at the crowd. He left the field like an emotional loser, not a legend who knew how to keep his cool.

Ronaldo has been sent off 12 times at club level. But the national team has always been the place where he has kept his composure for 22 years. His first sending off for Portugal, at the age of 40, was not just a sad milestone. It was a sign of a change in Ronaldo himself. A change in a direction he did not want to admit.

The Irish weren’t fazed by Ronaldo’s fame. O’Shea didn’t bow down to a man with more than a billion social media followers. He was just doing his job: stalking Ronaldo to the point of annoyance. And Ronaldo lost. A legend was drawn into a duel that was unequal in terms of fame, but equal in terms of spirit. And Ronaldo lost on that front.

In many situations, Ronaldo became a tactical and psychological burden.

The Dublin incident raises a big question: is Ronaldo still worthy of his untouchable role in the national team? The answer is increasingly leaning towards “no more”. He can still score goals, he can still decide matches, but he is no longer an absolute guarantee.

In many situations, Ronaldo has become a tactical and psychological burden. EURO 2024 has shown that. He has slowed down. He lacks flexibility. He no longer makes the difference like before. He starts, even if not effectively, because he is simply… Ronaldo.

Coach Roberto Martinez did not dare to take Ronaldo off the field. A decision that showed dependence, even fear. When one player becomes too big, the whole team shrinks. Ronaldo at this point is no longer the driving force. He sometimes becomes a shadow over the rest.

The red card also leaves Portugal with a big risk: Ronaldo could be suspended for three games for violent conduct, meaning he could miss the final qualifying match and the first two group stage games of the 2026 World Cup. Portugal need to beat Armenia to secure automatic qualification. But even if they do, they may have to start the World Cup without their hero.

And the next question is: Does Portugal really need Ronaldo at all costs?

Is Ronaldo still important?

The answer may be controversial, but it is no longer absurd. Portugal has a talented young generation. They have quick, flexible options, ready to contribute without the weight of an icon. Ronaldo’s absence could allow the team to play more freely, more loosely, more focused on the collective rather than on one individual.

Does Portugal really need Ronaldo at all costs?

Ronaldo is still chasing 1,000 career goals. He has 953. He is chasing the World Cup, the only trophy missing. He is chasing the feeling that he is still special. But all that chasing is slowing Portugal down. He is trying to hold on to youth. He is trying to deny time. And he is making himself look… ridiculous.

Ronaldo has nothing more to prove. He has done enough to make history. But because he cares so much about his image, the incident in Dublin should be a wake-up call. A legend needs to leave the pitch with respect. Not with sarcasm. Not in a sulk. Not as a 40-year-old man behaving like a 12-year-old boy.

Ronaldo can still contribute to Portugal. But he must accept his limits. He must know when to step back. He must grow up to be true to what he has built.

Time does not win over anyone. But great people are those who know how to face it. And Ronaldo needs to do that, right now.

Source: https://znews.vn/ronaldo-da-thua-post1602897.html