The comprehensive Ronaldo thread

mshnsh

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Honestly he should've just chosen an easy move like Messi. He's never going to look poor in the French league, especially when helped by Neymar and Mbappe. Moving to the Premier League at his age was insane, even if he did still have one good season.
Ronaldo had no offers from PSG when he wanted to leave Juve. Man City had a look after missing out on Kane but the price tag and wages were an issue. We were the only ones seriously willing to bend over backwards for him.
In short he did not have options other than United so he did not exactly get to pick his club.
 

mshnsh

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I agree.

I remember Gary Neville (of course not Ronaldo's favourite pundit) saying he that thought that after his stellar 2007/2008 season when resulted in him deservedly winning the Ballon d'or, he didn't seem quite as motivated or as 'hungry' the following season in 2008/2009. Admittedly he was injured at the start of the season as well, and the standards that he set in 2007/2008 (which clearly exceeded his already excellent performances in 2006/2007) were so high. And there were still some excellent moments from him of course (the goals against Porto and Arsenal in the Champions League, against Tottenham in the Premier League etc.), but his overall level did look to drop compared to the previous season There was also daily speculation about his future as well. 2008/2009 was Messi's first really stellar season, and I thought that lit a fuse in Ronaldo for subsequent seasons as well.

Clearly Ronaldo would have enjoyed a tremendous career regardless, but I don't think it would have been so phenomenal over such a long period of time without Messi.
08/09 wasn't Messi’s first stellar season. If you watched Messi regularly, he was already the best in the world by 19 to 20 years age. His main issue was recurrent injuries at important times in the season that prevented him from having a significant impact on Barcelona. Thus he did not get the recognition. 08/09 was his first injury free season.

But I do agree that Messi has been a motivation for Ronaldo's longevity. Personally, although I don't like his antics, it would be totally wrong to completely throw his stellar career under the bus. He is a football legend and an example of how to make the absolute most of your ability. He is also an example on how NOT to end your career.
 
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I’ll never get my head around a 37 year old acting out like Ronaldo has since the Summer. I mean, I get he’s a massive narcissist, but feck me, he was at a club where the fans love him, and on a massive contract, and he’s 38 years old in February. There’s never been a 37 year old in history that’s a guaranteed starter at a top club.

It’s just so incredibly braindead.
 

kouroux

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I’ll never get my head around a 37 year old acting out like Ronaldo has since the Summer. I mean, I get he’s a massive narcissist, but feck me, he was at a club where the fans love him, and on a massive contract, and he’s 38 years old in February. There’s never been a 37 year old in history that’s a guaranteed starter at a top club.

It’s just so incredibly braindead.
Luka Modric ?
 

cyberman

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Ronaldo had no offers from PSG when he wanted to leave Juve. Man City had a look after missing out on Kane but the price tag and wages were an issue. We were the only ones seriously willing to bend over backwards for him.
In short he did not have options other than United so he did not exactly get to pick his club.
He would have had his choice after Madrid. Juve was a terrible move, even if he were chasing CL with Juve the Italian league hides you away from week to week. I suppose PSG does as well but I think PSG was the wrong move for Messi as well.
 

TheNewEra

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He would have had his choice after Madrid. Juve was a terrible move, even if he were chasing CL with Juve the Italian league hides you away from week to week. I suppose PSG does as well but I think PSG was the wrong move for Messi as well.
PSG was because his mates were all there, 2 weeks before he signed and Barca told him sorry we can't register you. He was out on a holiday and met with the PSG players, it was an easy choice.

I personally still see Messi winning a CL this year with PSG, Mbappe Messi and Neymar will be unplayable.

I then see Messi back at Barca, unless PSG offer Messi insane money but I think he still might want to retire at Barca.
 

kouroux

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PSG was because his mates were all there, 2 weeks before he signed and Barca told him sorry we can't register you. He was out on a holiday and met with the PSG players, it was an easy choice.

I personally still see Messi winning a CL this year with PSG, Mbappe Messi and Neymar will be unplayable.

I then see Messi back at Barca, unless PSG offer Messi insane money but I think he still might want to retire at Barca.
Where else could Messi have gone ? I doubt the PL has ever interested him.
 

kouroux

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Next season he’ll be Ronaldo’s age in fairness, he only just turned 37.
I think there’s a huge chance he’s not a guaranteed starter next season.
It was a special case anyway, you're right in general tbh. More than the age, it's how his level of play (the massive drop) that was problematic. Even last season, when he was scoring more, Ronaldo had a lot of shocking games.
 

nickm

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He could have adapted his game, same way Giggs did, he has the talent. But he's obsessed with goals and records, the one area where you need the acceleration and age hits you hardest. He's been very badly advised, assuming there is anyone that he listens to. Sad, really.
 

TheNewEra

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Where else could Messi have gone ? I doubt the PL has ever interested him.
I think maybe City but as soon as I saw the news of him not being able to be registered I knew it was PSG already.
 

TheNewEra

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He could have adapted his game, same way Giggs did, he has the talent. But he's obsessed with goals and records, the one area where you need the acceleration and age hits you hardest. He's been very badly advised, assuming there is anyone that he listens to. Sad, really.
I don't think he could have, or do now. He doesn't want to be a midfielder, or be a second striker, he wants to be the main man and that everyone works for him.
 

2mufc0

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If I recall correctly even during his time at Juve and later time at Madrid, his minutes were often managed and was on the bench quite bit resting him for CL games and didn't seem to cause a fuss then.
 

Adisa

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He could have adapted his game, same way Giggs did, he has the talent. But he's obsessed with goals and records, the one area where you need the acceleration and age hits you hardest. He's been very badly advised, assuming there is anyone that he listens to. Sad, really.
To be fair to Ronaldo, Giggs had a fantastic engine. He could run for days. So his transition into midfield would have been easier than Ronaldo if he decided to go down that route.
Also Ronaldo is soon to be 38, played over 1000 games. You can't say he hasn't had the longevity.
 

kouroux

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If I recall correctly even during his time at Juve and later time at Madrid, his minutes were often managed and was on the bench quite bit resting him for CL games and didn't seem to cause a fuss then.
Really ? He's never been happy to be benched or rested or even subbed at those clubs
 

2mufc0

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Really ? He's never been happy to be benched or rested or even subbed at those clubs
To be honest I can't remember anything at the time, but then again I wasn't following Madrid and Juve that closely, maybe some of those fans can shed some light.
 

FrankWhite

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08/09 wasn't Messi’s first stellar season. If you watched Messi regularly, he was already the best in the world by 19 to 20 years age. His main issue was recurrent injuries at important times in the season that prevented him from having a significant impact on Barcelona. Thus he did not get the recognition. 08/09 was his first injury free season.

But I do agree that Messi has been a motivation for Ronaldo's longevity. Personally, although I don't like his antics, it would be totally wrong to completely throw his stellar career under the bus. He is a football legend and an example of how to make the absolute most of your ability. He is also an example on how NOT to end your career.
While Messi is the more naturally talented and better player, I think they've both inspired each other as well the next generation of footballers. Mbappe had a picture of Ronaldo on his wall I believe.
Shame Ronaldo ruined his legacy with United... for now. I imagine after of few years, once he's retired, some of these bridges will be mended.
 

LeeD1982

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CR7's peak as an all-round player was 2007/2008. 42 goals from the wing and hefty contributions in open play. He's never been better than this season.

His early days at Madrid were also amazing, but he regressed as an all-round footballer from about 2012.

This, to put it bluntly, was down to the Messi rivalry. In his absolute mid-20s physical prime, CR7 could carry the extra muscle weight/BMI and be both a surging, powerplay winger bounding over defenders, and a significant goalscorer at the same time, but he couldn't do both into his late 20s and 30s.

One part of his game had to go. He could have kept the wing play, in which case he'd have had a similar career to Gareth Bale. Spectacular but increasingly injury prone and inconsistent.

Or trim up to an absolute scientifically ideal BMI and concentrate pretty much solely on fewer touchers on the ball, inviting less fouls, getting into the box through the middle when teammates are in possession, and pure longevity.

He chose the latter and ... yeah ... chose well. But it came at a price. He's not got the otherworldly football ability of a Messi (or a Maradona or a Pele, and some others to boot). Even in his absolute 2007-2011 prime he was an incredible power athlete with a box of tricks and insatiable hunger for goals.

His output puts him in the top 5 ever, no doubt. Whether he's number 2 or number 5 depends on how you weight his abilities over time.
 
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gibers

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Lothar Matthaus doesn't need much to come down hard on anyone. The former captain of the German national team often comes out with harsh criticisms, and the one he has leveled at Cristiano Ronaldo after his poor World Cup in Qatar is no different.

"With his ego, Ronaldo has damaged the team and himself," the German commented in an interview with the Bild newspaper.

"There is no doubt that he was a great player and an absolutely lethal finisher. But now he has damaged his legacy.

"I find it hard to think that he can find a place in a team. In a way, Ronaldo makes me feel sorry for him."

Portugal exited the World Cup in the quarter finals after losing to Morocco. Cristiano was a substitute in the last two matches

"He is the big failure of the World Cup, the opposite of Messi," commented the former German midfielder.

"He's the absolute winner. He deserves it because he has given me and all football fans great joy with his qualities and the way he plays. And he did it for 17-18 years.

Link
 

Ladron de redcafe

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Lothar Matthaus doesn't need much to come down hard on anyone. The former captain of the German national team often comes out with harsh criticisms, and the one he has leveled at Cristiano Ronaldo after his poor World Cup in Qatar is no different.

"With his ego, Ronaldo has damaged the team and himself," the German commented in an interview with the Bild newspaper.

"There is no doubt that he was a great player and an absolutely lethal finisher. But now he has damaged his legacy.

"I find it hard to think that he can find a place in a team. In a way, Ronaldo makes me feel sorry for him."

Portugal exited the World Cup in the quarter finals after losing to Morocco. Cristiano was a substitute in the last two matches

"He is the big failure of the World Cup, the opposite of Messi," commented the former German midfielder.

"He's the absolute winner. He deserves it because he has given me and all football fans great joy with his qualities and the way he plays. And he did it for 17-18 years.

Link
Yeah the contrast between Messi's fortunes this world cup and Ronaldo's is staggering. One pretty much sealed his legacy as the greatest ever (at the very least, sealed his legacy as the best of his generation by a country mile) while the other did some significant damage to his.

Retiring with 0 world cup KO stage goals and assists while watching his rival put up 9 at the age of 35.5 en route to winning the world cup must be humbling.
 

2mufc0

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Oh come on, he rarely gets subbed anyway. He's rarely reacted well to it
I was more talking about being rested and played in certain games which happened a lot previously.
 

B20

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I don't understand why Ronaldo doesn't go to some team in LA. I feel like he's someone who would thrive in that LA's culture rather than Saudi. I always saw him as someone who would go down the route of reality TV star after he retires from football.
Because he doesn't want to get arrested.
 

LawCharltonBest

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I’ll never get my head around a 37 year old acting out like Ronaldo has since the Summer. I mean, I get he’s a massive narcissist, but feck me, he was at a club where the fans love him, and on a massive contract, and he’s 38 years old in February. There’s never been a 37 year old in history that’s a guaranteed starter at a top club.

It’s just so incredibly braindead.
I agree.

If he ends up at Madrid, Chelsea or whatever and plays an important role in getting to a CL final, then I'll accept things worked out better for him

But if he ends up struggling to find a club suitable for him, as it seems due to his demands and regression, then that was just idiotic.

I think/hope he looks back at it in a few years and realises he fecked up forcing his exit