Cristiano Ronaldo has certainly overcome many challenges on his journey to becoming one of the best players of all time. However, looking at this year in isolation, it seems as though it is Ronaldo’s hardest challenge to catch a break in 2022.
It seems incredibly unfair that one of the two undisputed best players in soccer over the last 15 years or so, is forced to see his career off in heartbreaking fashion as it is now almost a certainty that Ronaldo will retire from international soccer without getting his hands on the World Cup trophy.
Heartbreak for Cristiano Ronaldo 💔 pic.twitter.com/QdZIUgwz1T
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) December 10, 2022
After being benched in the previous game by manager Fernando Santos, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner has been dropped yet again today against surprise quarterfinalists Morocco.
Youssef En-Nesyri headed home in the 42nd minute of the game, breaking the deadlock and putting the African nation ahead.
From that moment on, it was a game of cat and mouse, with Portugal having to do the chasing. Cristiano Ronaldo was brought onto the pitch by Fernando Santos in the 51st minute in hopes that the man who has netted on 800 previous occasions for club and country, give or take, will be able to bring Portugal on level footing and give them a fighting chance.
The second half seemed as though it was a loop. Wave after wave of Portuguese attacks, followed by expert defending by the Moroccans, followed by recycling of the ball by the Portuguese players, and a repeat of the same all over again.
The 90th-minute mark struck on the clock and eight minutes were to be added on. Eight very short minutes for Cristiano and co., and eight eternities for Morocco.
To make matters even more anxious for the Africans, their substitute striker, Walid Chhedira, was sent off after picking up a second yellow card by the referee, for a reckless challenge on Portugal forward Joao Felix.
As Pepe worked to lose his marker, he met a cross that was played nicely into the box but headed the ball wide.
Moments later, the referee blew the whistle for full-time.
🌍Morocco is the 1st ever African side to reach the semifinals of the FIFA World Cup.
🇲🇦Morocco is also the 1st ever Arab nation to reach the semifinals of the FIFA World Cup.
🔝 #FIFAWorldCup Achievement#Qatar2022|#MAR|#MARPOR pic.twitter.com/hX9rvBZXCw
— FIFA World Cup Stats (@alimo_philip) December 10, 2022
Cristiano Ronaldo walked off the pitch and into the tunnel. A camera recorded him tearing up, and with him, the entire soccer community that supported him.
What’s next for free agent Cristiano Ronaldo as the World Cup dream comes to an end?
After his bitter “break-up” with Manchester United, Ronaldo was a free agent heading into the World Cup.
Reports of Ronaldo’s agent Jorge Mendes agreeing to a deal from Saudi club Al-Nassr have been pouring in throughout the World Cup.
Reputed journalists like Fabrizio Romano have explored the possibility of Ronaldo agreeing on a deal with the Saudi Arabian club as well, with the reported deal on the table being somewhere around the $200 million a year mark, a ballpark figure.
Ronaldo will soon turn 38, in February 2023, and even though his levels of fitness and his commitment to the game could very well mean that he may play beyond the age of 40, there is little doubt that Ronaldo will almost certainly bid goodbye to international soccer, and play club level soccer for a little more time before hanging up his boots for good.
However, it’s no secret how much winning the World Cup meant to Cristiano Ronaldo, and recovering from this may take a while. There could even be a scenario where Ronaldo announces his retirement right away and ignore the option of playing more soccer, both, at the international and the local level.
The best possible answer to this question will most probably be given to us by the man himself in the days to come.