Portuguese footballing icon Cristiano Ronaldo has come under severe criticism after the goalless draw at Hampden Park to Scotland in their UEFA Nations League match. It ended a perfect record for the international side, and Cristiano was unable to make much impact, and the fans, as well as pundits, began questioning his performance alongside his place in the team.
Nevertheless, Portugal still dominated most parts of the game, though it could not break down the game into converting goals amid a rock-solid Scottish defense. Ronaldo, who failed up several chances that would expect him to convert, was visibly frustrated in the game and even at the end. His protest to the referee concerning him stopping the game too early added to the criticism. Several people on social media expressed disappointment in Ronaldo's display, particularly his reaction to the result. Immediately, tweets went out attacking the team. Fans were bluntly saying, "Cristiano Ronaldo is holding Portugal back. "He has done enough for football."
A lot of people thought it was time to tell Ronaldo his best days are in the past and he could be a potential liability under his new manager, Roberto Martinez. Interesting, too, is that some fans of Ronaldo, even worshippers of this football player, believe Portugal plays more interestingly without him. Fans further recently said, "I love the guy. I think he's the best in the world. But imagine how fantastic Portugal would be now without Cristiano Ronaldo." These words represent a rising opinion: while the influence of Ronaldo is, of course, immense, he makes it harder for his national team to be better in the future. And then, of course, there was the criticism outside of the playing pitch.
To some, it wasn't just about the missed chances, but how Ronaldo reacted to the defeat—something of a departure from the composed leader many have grown accustomed to. The bright light on Ronaldo didn't shine the spotlight on the team's performance. Diogo Jota of Liverpool and Bruno Fernandes of Manchester United were off the game too, nothing to speak of, not one iota of electricity Portugal needed. It was through some crucial substitutions by Martinez for Portugal that brought real pressure, and this, as expected, came far too late in the second half.
Ronaldo will return to Al-Nassr next month and focus on the Saudi Pro League while Portugal gears up for two crunch games in the Nations League versus Poland and Croatia. The only looming question over the national team is whether Martinez will further continue to bank on Ronaldo or make the bold move to explore other options in attack. The Portuguese camp has time to regroup, but for Ronaldo, this disappointing night at Hampden Park has left his position in the squad under scrutiny like never before.
