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Cristiano Ronaldo merely the latest example of a great player who couldn’t let go | Jonathan Wilson
Cristiano Ronaldo has retired from international football, ending a remarkable career that made him Portugal’s most famous player and a major national figure. The article argues that his late departure diminished that legacy, as his presence increasingly limited Portugal’s play and drew attention away from a talented generation still seeking major honours.
Ronaldo was left out of Portugal’s 2022 World Cup last-16 starting line-up, and replacement Gonçalo Ramos scored a hat-trick in a more fluid performance. He remained central at Euro 2024 and at the World Cup this summer, despite signs that his movement and pace had declined; political pressure and his commercial value also made dropping him difficult. The article says coach Jorge Jesus eventually intervened, though the supplied text ends before describing what happened next.
In short
- Ronaldo has retired from international football.
- The article says he stayed in Portugal’s team too long.
- His fame and commercial value complicated decisions about his role.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Ronaldo’s extraordinary record and stature gave Portugal legitimate reasons to keep selecting him: his experience, leadership and threat could still matter in decisive moments, while excluding a national icon carried sporting and public risks. Coaches may also have hoped that his qualities would outweigh any decline in movement, and that time with a gifted generation could help the team pursue major honours.
The case against
Portugal’s best chance of developing a more effective team may have required a timely transition to younger players. If Ronaldo’s declining movement and pace constrained the attack, and his status made ordinary selection decisions unusually difficult, continuing to build around him risked limiting the squad and drawing attention from players who could shape its future.