Wolfie
11 years ago
Been saying it for years! Great players show up in big games and influence the team in a positive way when they are struggling. Every team Cristiano is in, everyone else is just his sidekick. He'll never win a European cup or World cup and he'll never win another CL. He'll continue to score 70 goals a season in meaningless games and continue to win the meaningless Ballon d'Or trophy that just gives him a bigger ego. He's a good guy off the field but on he's not the best player by a long shot.
Last month, Cristiano Ronaldo opened a museum in his own honorin his native Madeira. Last week, he accepted the award of -Grand Officer- of Portugal.
One might think that he would just retired, having won the World Cup for his homeland. Or maybe the Champions League. Or at least the Ballon d Or.
No, at the time of each of his recent honors, Ronaldo hadnt won a single competition with club or country since the 2012 Spanish Supercopa.
History can remember them as premature celebrations of his being named winner of the 2013 Ballon d Or, an award that sent a regrettable message to fans, aspiring footballers and especially Ronaldo himself: When discerning the wheat from the chaff, image is everything. Results hold little currency.
-He scored 69 goals in 2013- is the most common argument made in Ronaldos favor. This is an indisputable fact that, without further context, is enormously impressive. Some take it a step further and conclude that because of his goals tally, Ronaldo was therefore the worlds most decisive footballer in 2013.
He wasnt. In fact, he didnt decide a whole lot. There were five big matches in 2013 in which Ronaldo had a chance to play a -decisive- role for Real Madrid and Portugal: the second leg of the Champions League semifinal with Dortmund, the Copa del Rey final against Atletico, Septembers Liga clash with Atletico, Octobers Liga match with Barcelona and the second leg of Portugals World Cup qualifying playoff with Sweden.
Against Dortmund, Real desperately needed a leader, a hero to rally them as they sought to overturn a 4-1 first-leg deficit—and they nearly got that before their elimination. But it was not the rather harmless and off-form Ronaldo who was up for the challenge. Instead, it was substitute Karim Benzema who, following his introduction, brought bite into the hosts attack as he scored and assisted in a 2-0 win.
Ronaldo had a chance to redeem himself a month later in the Copa final and things began well as he opened the scoring. But Atletis defenders had his number and the underdogs came back to force extra time before going ahead on 99 minutes.
A more decisive player would have inspired his team to equalize, but Ronaldo let his frustration boil over and was sent off after kicking Gabi in the jaw.
Despite boasting the most expensive club squad ever assembled and allegedly the best player in the world, Real ended the 2012-13 season with complete and utter disappointment. They finished a whopping 15 points behind Barcelona in La Liga, failed to reach the Champions League final for the 11th consecutive year, despite facing semifinalists with a tiny fraction of their wage bill, and couldnt even claim the Copa as a consolation prize.
In August, a panel of journalists named Franck Ribery UEFAs Best Player in Europe; Lionel Messi finished second.
Ronaldo went on a tear at the start of the 2013-14 season, but once again went missing on the biggest stage.
In late September, Real were two points behind Barca and Atleti when they hosted their Madrid rivals. Ronaldo was a complete flop in that match, which Atleti won 1-0 following Diego Costas solitary strike.
One month later, Real were three points behind Barcelona as they visited Catalonia. Neymar stole the show, lifting Barca to a 2-1 victory as Ronaldo was again impotent. Real could have drawn level with Barca in that game, but instead ended the matchday third in the Spanish Primera, six points behind Lionel Messi & Co.
The turning point for Ronaldo in winning the Ballon d Or was Portugals World Cup playoff against Sweden. He scored a late winner in the first leg, then a magnificent hat trick in the second. Suddenly, all was forgiven.
Players and pundits cried out in unison: How could anyone else be considered for the Ballon d Or?
Last month, Cristiano Ronaldoopened a museum in his own honorin his native Madeira. Last week, he accepted the award of -Grand Officer- of Portugal.
One might think that he would just retired, having won the World Cup for his homeland. Or maybe the Champions League. Or at least the Ballon d Or.
No, at the time of each of his recent honors, Ronaldo hadnt won a single competition with club or country since the 2012 Spanish Supercopa.
History can remember them as premature celebrations of his being named winner of the 2013 Ballon d Or, an award that sent a regrettable message to fans, aspiring footballers and especially Ronaldo himself: When discerning the wheat from the chaff, image is everything. Results hold little currency.
-He scored 69 goals in 2013- is the most common argument made in Ronaldos favor. This is an indisputable fact that, without further context, is enormously impressive. Some take it a step further and conclude that because of his goals tally, Ronaldo was therefore the worlds most decisive footballer in 2013.
He wasnt. In fact, he didnt decide a whole lot. There were five big matches in 2013 in which Ronaldo had a chance to play a -decisive- role for Real Madrid and Portugal: the second leg of the Champions League semifinal with Dortmund, the Copa del Rey final against Atletico, Septembers Liga clash with Atletico, Octobers Liga match with Barcelona and the second leg of Portugals World Cup qualifying playoff with Sweden.
The Big Games.
Against Dortmund, Real desperately needed a leader, a hero to rally them as they sought to overturn a 4-1 first-leg deficitu2014and they nearly got that before their elimination. But it was not the rather harmless and off-form Ronaldo who was up for the challenge. Instead, it was substitute Karim Benzema who, following his introduction, brought bite into the hosts attack as he scored and assisted in a 2-0 win.
Ronaldo had a chance to redeem himself a month later in the Copa final and things began well as he opened the scoring. But Atletis defenders had his number and the underdogs came back to force extra time before going ahead on 99 minutes.
A more decisive player would have inspired his team to equalize, but Ronaldo let his frustration boil over and was sent off after kicking Gabi in the jaw.
Despite boasting the most expensive club squad ever assembled and allegedly the best player in the world, Real ended the 2012-13 season with complete and utter disappointment. They finished a whopping 15 points behind Barcelona in La Liga, failed to reach the Champions League final for the 11th consecutive year, despite facing semifinalists with a tiny fraction of their wage bill, and couldnt even claim the Copa as a consolation prize.
In August, a panel of journalists named Franck Ribery UEFAs Best Player in Europe; Lionel Messi finished second.
Ronaldo went on a tear at the start of the 2013-14 season, but once again went missing on the biggest stage.
In late September, Real were two points behind Barca and Atleti when they hosted their Madrid rivals. Ronaldo was a complete flop in that match, which Atleti won 1-0 following Diego Costas solitary strike.
One month later, Real were three points behind Barcelona as they visited Catalonia. Neymar stole the show, lifting Barca to a 2-1 victory as Ronaldo was again impotent. Real could have drawn level with Barca in that game, but instead ended the matchday third in the Spanish Primera, six points behind Lionel Messi & Co.
The turning point for Ronaldo in winning the Ballon d Or was Portugals World Cup playoff against Sweden. He scored a late winner in the first leg, then a magnificent hat trick in the second. Suddenly, all was forgiven.
Players and pundits cried out in unison: How could anyone else be considered for the Ballon d Or?
Last month, Cristiano Ronaldo opened a museum in his own honorin his native Madeira. Last week, he accepted the award of -Grand Officer- of Portugal.
One might think that he would just retired, having won the World Cup for his homeland. Or maybe the Champions League. Or at least the Ballon d Or.
No, at the time of each of his recent honors, Ronaldo hadnt won a single competition with club or country since the 2012 Spanish Supercopa.
History can remember them as premature celebrations of his being named winner of the 2013 Ballon d Or, an award that sent a regrettable message to fans, aspiring footballers and especially Ronaldo himself: When discerning the wheat from the chaff, image is everything. Results hold little currency.
-He scored 69 goals in 2013- is the most common argument made in Ronaldos favor. This is an indisputable fact that, without further context, is enormously impressive. Some take it a step further and conclude that because of his goals tally, Ronaldo was therefore the worlds most decisive footballer in 2013.
He wasnt. In fact, he didnt decide a whole lot. There were five big matches in 2013 in which Ronaldo had a chance to play a -decisive- role for Real Madrid and Portugal: the second leg of the Champions League semifinal with Dortmund, the Copa del Rey final against Atletico, Septembers Liga clash with Atletico, Octobers Liga match with Barcelona and the second leg of Portugals World Cup qualifying playoff with Sweden.
The Big Games.
Against Dortmund, Real desperately needed a leader, a hero to rally them as they sought to overturn a 4-1 first-leg deficitu2014and they nearly got that before their elimination. But it was not the rather harmless and off-form Ronaldo who was up for the challenge. Instead, it was substitute Karim Benzema who, following his introduction, brought bite into the hosts attack as he scored and assisted in a 2-0 win.
Ronaldo had a chance to redeem himself a month later in the Copa final and things began well as he opened the scoring. But Atletis defenders had his number and the underdogs came back to force extra time before going ahead on 99 minutes.
A more decisive player would have inspired his team to equalize, but Ronaldo let his frustration boil over and was sent off after kicking Gabi in the jaw.
Despite boasting the most expensive club squad ever assembled and allegedly the best player in the world, Real ended the 2012-13 season with complete and utter disappointment. They finished a whopping 15 points behind Barcelona in La Liga, failed to reach the Champions League final for the 11th consecutive year, despite facing semifinalists with a tiny fraction of their wage bill, and couldnt even claim the Copa as a consolation prize.
In August, a panel of journalists named Franck Ribery UEFAs Best Player in Europe; Lionel Messi finished second.
Ronaldo went on a tear at the start of the 2013-14 season, but once again went missing on the biggest stage.
In late September, Real were two points behind Barca and Atleti when they hosted their Madrid rivals. Ronaldo was a complete flop in that match, which Atleti won 1-0 following Diego Costas solitary strike.
One month later, Real were three points behind Barcelona as they visited Catalonia. Neymar stole the show, lifting Barca to a 2-1 victory as Ronaldo was again impotent. Real could have drawn level with Barca in that game, but instead ended the matchday third in the Spanish Primera, six points behind Lionel Messi & Co.
The turning point for Ronaldo in winning the Ballon d Or was Portugals World Cup playoff against Sweden. He scored a late winner in the first leg, then a magnificent hat trick in the second. Suddenly, all was forgiven.
Players and pundits cried out in unison: How could anyone else be considered for the Ballon d Or?