There’s a particular pattern that keeps recurring throughout the last few years of Cristiano Ronaldo’s career. You’re watching the game thinking, where is he? He’s not doing anything. Look at him. He can hardly run. A 40-year old celebrity passenger on an ego trip. This isn’t Socceraid – has everyone lost their minds? How long can [Ronaldo’s team] allow this charade to continue?
Then he suddenly produces a moment like he did in the 17th minute on Saturday night. He gets the ball 25 yards out. You’re thinking: there’s no space to do anything here. He seems to answer your thought by digging out a phenomenal left-footed shot that smacks the base of Caoimhín Kelleher’s post. Okay, not many players could have done that.
In the end Ronaldo didn’t score, which is actually not that unusual. This was the 131st time he has played for Portugal without scoring. (He has packed 141 goals into the other 93 international appearances.)
But the game suggested that even if Ronaldo never scored another goal for Portugal it would be worth their while keeping him around, just for the effect he has on referees.
[ Portuguese media get stuck into Ireland and what else we learned from defeat in LisbonOpens in new window
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