The Cristiano Ronaldo era with Portugal’s national team has reached a disappointing conclusion, marking the end of a storied career with a frustrating final act. Portugal’s Euro 2024 quarter-final exit at the hands of a lackluster France team was a painful watch, highlighting Ronaldo’s diminished impact on the pitch and raising questions about the team’s management.
Portugal’s elimination came after a 0-0 draw that led to a penalty shootout, where France emerged victorious with a 5-3 win. Ronaldo successfully converted his penalty, but it was not enough as Theo Hernandez scored the decisive spot-kick following Joao Felix’s miss. Despite the drama of the shootout, the match underscored a broader issue: Ronaldo’s decreasing effectiveness as he struggled to make a meaningful impact over the 120 minutes of play.
In fairness to Ronaldo, the defeat was not solely his fault. He scored his penalty in the shootout and showed moments of his legendary skill. However, throughout the match, he touched the ball only 40 times and extended his tournament tally of shots without a goal to a staggering 23. These statistics highlight the problem: Ronaldo, once the heartbeat of the team, had become more of a passenger on the field. A more decisive manager than Roberto Martinez might have substituted Ronaldo, who appeared increasingly ineffective.
Roberto Martinez’s decisions were particularly controversial. Despite Ronaldo’s limited impact, Martinez chose to substitute Bruno Fernandes and Rafael Leao, both of whom had been far more involved and threatening. Fernandes, who played a more advanced role, nearly broke the deadlock and was directly involved in creating most of Portugal’s chances. Leao, the team’s most menacing player, consistently troubled the French defense but was the first forward to be taken off. These substitutions baffled fans and analysts alike, as they seemed to weaken Portugal’s offensive capabilities at crucial moments.
This elimination marks a bitter end to Ronaldo’s illustrious international career, overshadowed by a series of underwhelming performances and controversial managerial decisions. The final chapters of the Cristiano Ronaldo Show were a tough watch, tarnishing what had been a period of sustained excellence. As Portugal looks to the future, the challenge will be to rebuild and harness the potential of a talented squad that was, unfortunately, misused in their last major tournament under Ronaldo’s leadership.
