Cristiano Ronaldo burning bridges everywhere in the final leg of his career

You just knew that this was around the corner and only a matter of time before it exploded around the football world in spectacular fashion. And it well and truly did after news emerged that Cristiano Ronaldo has left the Portugal training camp midway through the international break to send massive riptides in the Portuguese and the global footballing fraternity.

In a statement made by the Portuguese in the aftermath, he spoke about how he will give his reasons for the withdrawal in due course, but to all watching, it really does not need any reason. This is another incident in the ever-filling Cristiano Ronaldo book of petulance, and this one could go a long way in tarnishing what has been an incredible legacy for his country.

For long, it was believed that Ronaldo always held himself to the highest level of professionalism and dignity when it came to donning the colours of the national team. And it seemed like that too. When he was not sulking or throwing hissy fits at the clubs he played for, he was always a jovial, lively, and satisfied player in the confines of the Portugal training camp, laughing and joking with his teammates in what was always a light-hearted environment.

However, this particular instance has now sadly become more of the norm than the exception for Ronaldo in the last 5 years of his career. From walking out of the stadium while at Manchester United, his scathing but sanctioned interview with Piers Morgan, his walking out of Al-Nassr in the recent past, his talk about how the World Cup is just another 7-8 game tournament, and the Euro is bigger than the World Cup. All these have been a staple in the book of petulance, and that just does not bode well in today’s day and age.

With performance being the greatest currency, Ronaldo’s tantrums do not hold weight simply because he does not perform at the same high level he used to at his pomp. At that stage, his petulance can be set aside because he was delivering at the end where it mattered the most. But now, the performances are poor, but the attitude remains, and that is a recipe for disaster.

While the court of public opinion is as always, divided, the people against this latest incident far outweighs the ones in favour. Coach Jorge Jesus manages the entire Portugal team and not just one. If he believes that Ronaldo was not required to play in a particular game, he has the full right to implement that decision. The currency that every coach is measured by is the results he delivers, and pandering to Ronaldo’s ego can only get you so far if the results are not there.

No team is bigger than the individual, even if the individual in question is arguably the nation’s greatest ever player. At the end of it all, he is still a player, a professional, and a role model to many off the pitch who look up to him. This latest outburst is one of many that have kept on tarnishing his legacy, his image, and his standing in the pantheons of the great game.

If this was a seeming end to an illustrious career, it is a sad way to end, because there is nothing worse than ending a career by burning all bridges with everyone involved. It only ends badly for you.