The time has come for Cristiano Ronaldo to retire: No one wants to see all-time great continue to humiliate himself after latest Al-Nassr tantrum
GOALThe powers of the five-time Ballon d’Or winner have been declining for years, and he’s now causing significant harm to his legacy.
Cristiano Ronaldo has had some memorable tantrums over the years, but few more childish and embarrassing than his outburst during Al-Nassr's Saudi Super Cup final defeat against Al-Hilal. Ronaldo gave his team the lead with an instinctive close-range finish just before the break, but Luis Castro's side completely capitulated in the second half and found themselves on the wrong end of a 4-1 thrashing.
Former Barcelona winger Malcom dealt the final blow after capitalising on a horrendous error from Al-Nassr goalkeeper Bento, which pushed Ronaldo over the edge. The 39-year-old accused his team-mates of 'sleeping' as he stood in the centre circle with two hands next to his ear, before making a lewd gesture that appeared to imply they had 'sh*t themselves'.
The scene was pitiful. Al-Nassr’s captain, who also happens to be the highest-paid footballer worldwide, demonstrated an astonishing absence of grace and self-perception at a crucial moment. Al-Hilal scored their fourth goal with 18 minutes of regular playtime still remaining. Although it would have been a great challenge to catch up, Al-Nassr could have at least preserved some dignity.
Unfortunately, this version of Ronaldo only plays for himself. It's no coincidence that Al-Nassr have not won a single trophy since his ground-breaking arrival in January last year. Ronaldo is in complete denial over the fact he is a shadow of the player he once was, and instead of drawing crowds he now repels them with his immature behaviour as he desperately clings to relevancy in an era that has long passed him by.
