In a turn of events that spelled the end of an era, Portugal was handed an unceremonious exit from Euro 2024, leaving the spotlight on Cristiano Ronaldo for all the wrong reasons. The 2016 champions were ousted by France, who clinched a 5-3 victory on penalties after a goalless Euro 2024 quarter-final in Hamburg last Friday. Ronaldo’s performance was lacklustre at best and, at worst, detrimental to his team’s hopes.
The match painted an all too familiar picture for the 39-year-old superstar. Much like his subdued presence in the 2022 World Cup, Ronaldo’s attempts to influence the game fell flat. This time, his ineffectiveness on the pitch stirred memories of when former coach Fernando Santos benched him during Portugal’s 6-1 thrashing of Switzerland — a game that then symbolized the dawn of a promising Portuguese side.
Under new management from Roberto Martinez, the Al-Nassr forward saw unwavering support, a testament to Martinez’s commitment. This backing came despite Ronaldo emerging goalless after five appearances in Germany. The talismanic striker has been struggling, marked by his inability to score in his last nine major tournament matches. With other potent attacking options like Liverpool’s Diogo Jota and PSG’s Goncalo Ramos warming the bench, Martinez’s decision to keep Ronaldo on the field, even as he faltered against France, raised many eyebrows.
While France’s coach Didier Deschamps opted to substitute an underperforming Kylian Mbappe, Ronaldo remained on the field, a stark contrast that highlighted Martinez’s reluctance to take any drastic measures.
During the last 16 matches against Slovenia, Ronaldo’s missed penalty in extra time led to a dramatic, tear-filled spectacle. Despite Martinez lauding the display of passion, many speculated those tears were more about Ronaldo’s personal failure to break records, such as becoming the oldest player to score at a European Championship, rather than genuine remorse for the team.
Another notable lapse was his failure to maintain his record of scoring at every major international tournament he had participated in. Ending his run with no goals in Euro 2024 and unable to add to his tally of 14 Euros goals, Ronaldo’s tournament was a string of missed opportunities, including a glaring miss in extra-time against France where he fired over the bar from close range — a chance he has converted with ease countless times in his illustrious career.
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Ronaldo’s presence heavily dictated Portugal’s style of play, often restraining the creative input of virtuosos like Bruno Fernandes and Bernardo Silva. Instead of fluid play, the team deferred to crossing the ball to Ronaldo, who no longer possessed the speed to consistently break past defences. Martinez seemed stuck in a bind, seemingly unable to exclude Ronaldo from his lineup, which only further handicapped Portugal’s tactical adaptability.
Following the defeat, Martinez noted that no decisions had been made about Ronaldo’s future with the national team, citing the rawness of their recent elimination. “We just finished the game, everything is still too raw, we’re suffering a defeat as a team, there’s no individual decisions at this point,” Martinez said. This stance might reflect more than strategy — it points to the ‘cult of Cristiano,’ a phenomenon among Portugal’s fanbase that places Ronaldo on a pedestal.
Crowded stadiums across Frankfurt, Leipzig, and Berlin bore witness to hordes of fans clad in maroon Ronaldo ‘7’ jerseys, echoing his iconic “Siiiiiuuuu” celebration relentlessly. Even opposing fans came for the Ronaldo spectacle, now tinged with more melancholy than magic.
Slovenia’s Adam Gnezda Cerin candidly remarked that their fans primarily attended to see Ronaldo, emphasizing the superstar’s enduring draw despite his dwindling capabilities. Although Slovenia eventually lost to Portugal on penalties at the Euros, they, too, had highlighted Ronaldo’s diminishing influence on the field — a task France completed clinically.
In light of these shelled-out performances, Ronaldo has acknowledged Euro 2024 would be his last. As Portugal shifts focus towards the 2026 World Cup, their prospects might brighten without the overshadowing presence of an aging Ronaldo. His legacy, rich with triumphs and records, will remain, yet his days of defining their fate appear numbered.
As the curtain falls on this chapter, the waning echoes of Ronaldo’s prime might just signal a fresh start for Portugal, untethered from the grand yet increasingly burdensome expectations of their once invincible football king.
