Sometimes you must have it in your destiny. If you don’t have it in your destiny, don’t force it. The fifth time I was on the World Cup, when I sang the national anthem in the prelude to the first game, the 37-year-old C Ronaldo was filled with tears. After losing to Morocco in the quarter-finals on December 11, the greatest player in Portugal's history cried and left the court. The last time he fought for Hercules Cup , Ronaldo said goodbye with regret.
The media kept mentioning the national team appearance record in 196 games. Coach Santos was tirelessly explaining "why don't let Ronaldo start" and his teammates Pepe and Fernandez intentionally or unintentionally criticized the referee, and his girlfriend held him up on social media... But for Ronaldo himself, the records on the field and the noise outside the field became irrelevant at this moment.
From 2006 to 2022, Ronaldo has experienced many twists and turns. It is not easy to represent Portugal in five consecutive World Cups, and his achievements in scoring for five consecutive World Cups are unprecedented. When the farewell moment really came, Ronaldo cried and walked off the court, returned to the locker room through the player's passage, and then walked on the team bus and left the court without even a single word.
With regret and reluctance, Ronaldo ended his 5th World Cup journey. Photo/Xinhua News Agency
farewell
appearance on the bench has not turned the tide, leaving the court alone
The farewell of the World Cup is often without a preview, and every team enters the knockout stage and has the possibility of going home at any time. Portugal's elimination and Ronaldo's departure were also sudden. After easily defeating Switzerland in the
coach Santos, who tasted the sweetness in the last round of the game, made a decision. Gonzalo Ramos, who had just scored a "hat trick", started, and Ronaldo continued to be on standby on the bench. It was not until Morocco took the lead and Portugal could not defeat him for a long time that Ronaldo came on as a substitute in the 51st minute. I'm afraid many people wouldn't have thought that this would be the last 40 minutes of Ronaldo on the World Cup stage.
The Portuguese puts the hope of reversal on Ronaldo, but unfortunately the reality is more cruel than imagined. Ronaldo sent a wonderful pass for Felix , but unfortunately the latter's shot was resolved by goalkeeper Bunu . As the game ended, the 37-year-old Ronaldo got rid of the defensive player and was saved again. The 39-year-old Pepe broke his arm while heading the ball, but still failed to change the situation on the court.
's final whistle sounded, in sharp contrast to the crazy celebration of the Moroccans. Ronaldo cried and left the scene alone, and Pepe, Fernandez and others' faces were full of reluctance.
"No regrets." After the game, talking about the decision not to start Ronaldo, Portuguese coach Santos emphasized, "We are playing against a team that is better than Switzerland, and the challenge on the court is greater. Cristiano is a great player and he played when we think it is necessary. We don't regret it."
appeared as a substitute, and Ronaldo failed to help Portugal turn the situation around. Photo/Xinhua News Agency
imprint
scored for five consecutive World Cups, Portugal's best results top 4
Portugal lost in the quarter-finals, FIFA social media posted a tribute to Ronaldo, "Thank you, Cristiano." Ronaldo said goodbye to the World Cup, and the "last dance" has become a shock.
Maybe everyone will remember that Ronaldo scored in five consecutive World Cups, which is an achievement that no one has achieved before. In the 5 World Cup matches, Ronaldo scored 8 goals for Portugal and had 2 assists. Some people may feel regretful that they have made 22 appearances in the 5 World Cup, but Ronaldo has never scored in the knockout round.
Maybe everyone will remember that the best result of Portugal led by Ronaldo is the top 4. From 2006 to 2022, Ronaldo stopped in the group stage, twice stopped in the top 16, and this year he fell to the top 8. The only time he advanced to the semi-finals was in the distant 2006. I believe some people will remember that in 2010, 2014 and 2022, if Ronaldo had not turned the tide in the European play-offs, Portugal would not even be able to participate in the World Cup.
C Ronaldo will inevitably be compared with Messi and .In the same 5 World Cup, Messi was in the lead in terms of appearances, goals, assists and other data. As for the national team's results, Messi led Argentina to the 2014 World Cup final. Before Portugal was eliminated, Messi had already entered the semi-finals of this World Cup.
C Ronaldo can't escape competing with many great stars for World Cup performance. Compared with personal data, Ronaldo can no longer reach the height of legends such as Cloze, Ronaldo, Bailey . Speaking of collective honor, compared with many legendary stars who once won the Hercules Cup, Ronaldo's World Cup journey was long enough, but full of regrets.
In the long history of the World Cup, victory and failure, laughter and tears, winners and frustrated people, every star has his own story, and every fan will also have exclusive memories. The story and memory about Ronaldo has been officially sealed, and the merits and demerits are left to comment on future generations.
World Cup "Last Dance" ends. See Ronaldo again in the next competition, maybe the next European Cup .
The future
The next stop is not yet determined. See you in the 2024 European Cup?
When a team and a star win a key victory or a trophy, all problems and contradictions will disappear. On the contrary, disharmonious voices and rumors will be infinitely amplified and eventually evolved into a mess.
C Ronaldo bid farewell to the Qatar World Cup with a loss. The storm with his old club Manchester United has not yet subsided. The once close coach Santos was pushed to the forefront again, and Portuguese legend Figo was also involved.
is just the noise and will eventually calm down. Ronaldo is already 37 years old. It is a fact that his competitive state has declined, but his career has not yet reached the end. As a free agent, he will consider which club to go to and spend the last few years of his career. He has not retired from the national team, and whether to fight in Portuguese robe also requires him to make a decision.
Just during Ronaldo's World Cup in Qatar, the news that "Royce will sign a Saudi team" has spread like wildfire, and the possibility of returning to the Portuguese Super League or competing in American Major League has also been constantly mentioned. Of course, none of the above rumors have been confirmed. Only Ronaldo himself knows which league and which team are the most suitable for him.
When the 2026 World Cup was held, Ronaldo would be 41 years old. The possibility of participating in the World Cup for the 6th is slim. So is there any chance for the 2024 European Cup?
In an interview, Ronaldo mentioned that he hopes to use the 2024 European Cup as the curtain call of the career world competition. Compared with the World Cup, the European Cup has a better memory of Ronaldo, who led the team to win the 2016 European Cup. Will Ronaldo be discouraged after Qatar ended in the quarterfinals of the World Cup? Or do you want to make up for your regrets in the European Cup?
Even if his record in the World Cup was not satisfactory for 5 times, no one doubted that Ronaldo deserves the praise of "one of the greatest players in football" just because of his achievements in the club and the European Cup. As for how to go the last part of your career? It is Ronaldo himself who needs to make a decision.
Beijing News reporter Xu Bangyin
edited by Wang Chunqiu
proofreading by Zhao Lin
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