Cristiano Ronaldo disparaged the achievement of winning the World Cup because of the fact its played over just six or seven games. That number will rise to eight at the 2026 World Cup due to an extra knockout round – but for Ronaldo, his campaign will by all likelihood be limited to a maximum of five. It could end after one.
The Portugal captain, 40, is deep into his final act as a footballer, having confirmed that next years World Cup – the sixth of his decorated career – will definitely be his last. It acts as one more chance to match Lionel Messis crowning glory of Qatar 2022, which for many tipped the scales in the diminutive Argentinians favour as the greatest player of all time.
Ronaldo refutes the significance of this – because of course he does. Its not a dream (to win the World Cup), he said in his latest cringe-inducing interview with serial Ronaldo bootlicker – sorry, good friend – Piers Morgan. Yeah, right.
If that is how Ronaldo truly feels, he likely wont need more than a sleep and a shower to get over the potential damage hes wreaked to his countrys chances at next summers tournament finals. A spectacular moment of head-loss saw him sent off for throwing an elbow into the back of Dara OShea in Portugals 2-0 loss to Ireland. The result itself shouldnt impact the Selecaos automatic qualification but could well deprive Roberto Martinez of his captain, and footballs leading all-time international goalscorer, for the majority of the group stage.
Red cards in World Cup qualifying carry an automatic one-match ban but Ronaldo is set to see his increased to three matches for violent conduct. As Wayne Rooney famously experienced for England at Euro 2012, suspensions carry over into the final tournament – so if Portugal avoid the play-offs, Ronaldo will all but likely miss their first two of three group games.
Ronaldo had promised to behave ahead of kick-off. He bizarrely encouraged the hostile Dublin crowd to boo him, saying it would take the pressure off the other players – as if his teammates were the liabilities. But as he trudged towards the Aviva Stadium tunnel, giving it to the crowd in light of sins of his own doing, it wasnt boos he was subjected to; it was mocking jeers and laughter.
Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrimsson had urged referee Glenn Nyberg to not let Ronaldo control the game the day before. It was his action on the pitch that cost him the red card. It had nothing to do with me unless I got into his head, Hallgrimsson said. For a man whose fragile ego has almost grown weaker with age, that doesnt seem improbable. While Ronaldos cocky personality is nothing new, it has proliferated during what should be his gracious twilight years.
After a return to Manchester United at the age of 36 proved little more than an ineffective nostalgia act, Ronaldo – struggling for minutes before being phased out of the squad due to a dispute – went public. His 2022 interview with Morgan, one which began I like you, I like you too in a bizarre exchange of backslapping and flattery, saw the forward air his dirty laundry with his current employers for millions to see. He claimed hed been betrayed by the club, said he had no respect for then-manager Erik Ten Hag and argued that the clubs infrastructure and ambition hadnt improved since the Sir Alex Ferguson era. His contract at Old Trafford was terminated by mutual consent mere days after the explosive interviews airing.
He went on to join Saudi Arabian side Al-Nassr, sparking what is – lest we forget – footballs biggest sportswashing initiative, one that has led to the travesty of the 2034 World Cup being signed off for the problematic Gulf state. Ronaldo is content with shamelessly shilling the Saudi Pro League, lauding it as far superior to Portugals Primeira Liga and arguing for its top performers to be seriously considered for the Ballon dOr, when hes scoring happy against defences that – bar a handful of often state-financed clubs – remain at a considerably low standard.
But for all this talk of progression, you wont hear a peep about Saudi Arabias abhorrent human rights record, one that is worsening under Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The kingdom carried out 345 executions in 2024, the highest number recorded by Amnesty International in over 30 years. Amnesty made a plea to Ronaldo to highlight the countrys glaring social problems rather than contribute to laundering its reputation. By insisting Saudi Arabia is a safe place and an amazing country, he has cowered away from these calls.
While his continued involvement as a figurehead of the Saudi game can lead to questions over morality, there is little debate on Ronaldo, the narcissist. In his latest interview with Morgan, he asserted that hes more famous than Donald Trump and better looking than David Beckham; brags that show the 40-year-old father-of-five hasnt particularly matured from the arrogant character he became known for in his 20s.
Ronaldo told Morgan that he never wanted to be famous. Its boring… I wish to not be so famous, he said, claiming hed trade in his global notoriety for unrecognised success in an instant. When you see every comment, every action, every blunder of his going under the microscope, you almost begin to feel sorry for him, even if you dont believe him. But nobody makes him say these things. Nobody makes him do these things. Nobody made him sit down with Piers Morgan three times in six years.
Its inoffensive silence that makes his greatest rival so much less polarising. Helped by his naturally shy persona and limited English, Messi doesnt spark furore quite like Ronaldo. The eight-time Ballon dOr winner is similarly now playing at lower level with Inter Miami, but it feels hes going out with grace. Ronaldo, after his antics in Dublin, is in the midst of another ego attack, staying true to what has defined his close-career.
He says he has one more World Cup left, one or two more years in total. But with each passing misdemeanour, he erodes his legacy that little bit more.