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.