Why has Ronaldo's narcissistic nature been brushed over for a decade?

[Skills]

The guys always been a prick, but it's something most people (including myself tbf) have almost refused to acknowledge for many a year.

Instead this persona of the ultimate "winner" was created around him. The guy who'll do anything to win - well even that was a massive lie after watching multiple accounts of him being miserable/frustrated or at best indifferent to his team mates scoring. Winning was always a by product of Ronaldo's individual success - it was never the sole goal for him. And luckily, he was that good for so long and in that environment at Real Madrid - his own individual success ensured the teams success.

Now at this stage of his career - you can argue ever since he left Real Madrid, that has no longer been true.

 

[Tarrou]

700 goals helps

 

[Zippycup]

Because he was the world's best player

 

[duffer]

It wasn't by most people. The people who liked him just had their heads in the sand because he was very good at football.

 

[Raw]

Because he backed up his ego with a shit load of goals. Easy to ignore the narcissism issues when he was winning Ballon d'Ors.

 

[Camara]

When was it even brushed? He has been attacked for his narcissisim all his career

 

[HTG]

It never was. People just didn’t care. It’s what happens when grown people treat athletes like the second coming of Christ.

 

[The Siege]

I don't think it's been brushed, it's just not what stood out most because of how much he's achieved in football. It's the same reasons the people who are awful at your workplace are sometimes tolerated and passed off as a 'rockstar' personalities, because they get the key outcomes needed. As soon as that ends, no one backs them, because they're trouble for nothing.

 

[Dumbstar]

When was it even brushed? He has been attacked for his narcissisim all his career

Supporter bias. Madrid and Utd fans couldn't see it. Despite the rest of us warning them, well mainly Utd.

A bit like Suarez and his racism with us. We were warned and told many times.

 

[roonster09]

It wasn't brushed aside, everyone knew Ronaldo is more about "me" than team. During his first stint Rio even said in post match that Ronaldo will never be happy if he didn't score and team wins 4-0. It's just that his success and team's success went hand in hand.

 

[roonster09]

Supporter bias. Madrid and Utd fans couldn't see it. Despite the rest of us warning them, well mainly Utd.

A bit like Suarez and his racism with us. We were warned and told many times.

Selective memory/blindness.

 

[fergiewherearethou]

Now at this stage of his career - you can argue ever since he left Real Madrid, that has no longer been true.

When you stop being the best, or second best then all your defects become more evident.

 

[Daydreamer]

When was it even brushed? He has been attacked for his narcissisim all his career

I also thought this was the case.

 

[Varun1]

Naturally, people don't remember the drama that unfolded when he was with us the first time - it was just so long ago. But also, the amount of abuse you get when you have a different opinion! So some people don't bother posting about it.

 

[Zlatattack]

700 goals helps

This. He was an incredible goal scoring machine, it all got swept away because of how amazing he was at football.

He's not that anymore.

 

[Offside]

Someone made a good comparison to Michael Jackson i the other thread. Because he's genuinely one of the most talented in his field in history, his ego has gone off the scale and he's just a big man child, but he gets away with it because nobody can actually question his talent.

That's the root of all of this. His talent has now genuinely declined so he's getting completely fair criticism, and he can't accept it so throws his toys out the pram.

 

[RedRonaldo]

Why would anyone care if he is narcissistic or not, when he is actually a footballer who is there to win games for his teams, rather than a school teacher who is responsible of teaching manners for your kids at pre school.

 

[Gehrman]

His narcissism has always been a meme.

 

[The holy trinity 68]

Because he was the world's best player

He's never been the world's best player. He's had the best season in a decent number of years, but has always been the 2nd best player since 2009.

 

[Chief123]

The guys always been a prick, but it's something most people (including myself tbf) have almost refused to acknowledge for many a year.

Instead this persona of the ultimate "winner" was created around him. The guy who'll do anything to win - well even that was a massive lie after watching multiple accounts of him being miserable/frustrated or at best indifferent to his team mates scoring. Winning was always a by product of Ronaldo's individual success - it was never the sole goal for him. And luckily, he was that good for so long and in that environment at Real Madrid - his own individual success ensured the teams success.

Now at this stage of his career - you can argue ever since he left Real Madrid, that has no longer been true.

Pricks get away with it when they score lots of goals.

The fun starts when they turn to shit.

 

[Annihilate Now!]

Because he's no Lex Luger.

And because if your vanity means you're an extremely good footballer and leads you to loads of trophies then people will tolerate it.

 

[PSV]

He's never been the world's best player. He's had the best season in a decent number of years, but has always been the 2nd best player since 2009.

From 2013 to 2017 he won 4 out of 5 Ballon D'ors. That's best in the world.

This is a bit like saying Spain never was the best team in the world because Brazil has won most World Cups.

 

[BorisManUtd]

Everyone answered the question so I'm not going to repeat others' sentences. It's just shame Ronaldo can't somehow control his ego and realise that he's been amazing for 15+ years, in top 5 of best football players of all time (even the GOAT for many) and not he's almost 38 and it would be incredible to keep up the same level. He's obsessed about being the best which is admirable but that obsession could hurt him now.

 

[Spaghetti]

Because a hat trick is a bigger story than being a bit of a nob.

 

[JPRouve]

I have always respected the player because he was exceptionally good and his evolution shows that he is extremely hard working. Now the issue with Ronaldo is that while his narcissism and petulance have always been visible, many players have also said that he is a quiet and nice person in private, a bit strange but still very nice. I have no reason to believe that it's not true and I also think that his actions since 2018 comes from the fact that he is declining, he knows it and he struggles to adapt to the idea that he isn't the best.

 

[Andrade]

The guys always been a prick, but it's something most people (including myself tbf) have almost refused to acknowledge for many a year.

Instead this persona of the ultimate "winner" was created around him. The guy who'll do anything to win - well even that was a massive lie after watching multiple accounts of him being miserable/frustrated or at best indifferent to his team mates scoring. Winning was always a by product of Ronaldo's individual success - it was never the sole goal for him. And luckily, he was that good for so long and in that environment at Real Madrid - his own individual success ensured the teams success.

Now at this stage of his career - you can argue ever since he left Real Madrid, that has no longer been true.

He's very Trumpish. Right down to the whole taking shots at and cutting off people (even friends) who criticise him even mildly. It's pretty sad to be honest, the behaviour of a fairly juvenile mind..

 

[berbatrick]

Because, like everything else about him, it is just another point in the eternal dick measuring contest with Messi.
Ronaldo is narcissistic? Messi gets coaches fired!

 

[Adisa]

This is a man that raises his heels in photos to appear taller.
This is a man that raises his shorts in training for cameras to see his thighs.

 

[kafta]

Most elite athletes get away with it when they back it up with performances. He is no different.

People (including myself) say this mindset made him a winner. But when he's no longer winning, he just comes off like a prick.

 

[BorisManUtd]

Hitler being lunatic was brushed aside by majority while he was easily taking over most of Europe. It's when losing started that people probably started to question him. Yeah, it's not great comparison really, just came to my mind

 

[Regulus Arcturus Black]

700 goals helps

This.

I think you can act that way when you are that good, head and shoulders above all but a handful of players in history.

 

[Glorio]

He's the second best player of his generation - he was always going to get away with stuff.

Can't speak for a lot of United fans but I never really assumed that he was a decent human being. In fact, I'll be honest, I don't tend to put players on pedestals, they are just young men/women who are particularly talented at something that many people are interested in. End of.

My expectations on them end with playing well and not being criminals.

 

[DWelbz19]

What's mad to me is the far more sinister part of Ronaldo that gets overlooked.

 

[tenpoless]

When you're arrogant but so fecking good at your job, people are willing to tolerate your shit. And when it happens in football it almost feels unreal, he was a super hero.
But now he's shit, people won't put up with it. Age also plays a huge part. It's just not funny to see a fully grown up footballer with an ego of a youth player.

 

[moses]

It wasn't. It was just tolerated. He's lost his leverage is all.

 

[Oranges038]

Because he scored loads of goals and won trophies. Nobody except opposition fans care when you are doing the business on the pitch.

Now he just looks like another who cannot accept his time at the top is over. So everyone is jumping in the "we always knew he was a dick" bandwagon.

 

[Di Maria's angel]

I'm curious. Do people think it'd be difficult to be humble if you were in his position? He's a dick, yes. But imagine being in his shoes. What sort of person would you be?

 

[SportingCP96]

He's never been the world's best player. He's had the best season in a decent number of years, but has always been the 2nd best player since 2009.

Petty nonsensical Comments like this prove he truly was the best player in the world for many years.

 

[Zippycup]

He's never been the world's best player. He's had the best season in a decent number of years, but has always been the 2nd best player since 2009.

I'm not getting into that debate.

 

[acnumber9]

I think it’s a large part of what has driven him to be as good as he is. That’s why I struggle to get that angry about all this. People knew what he was.