Cristiano Ronaldo has shed selfish tears, been carried by his team-mates and Roberto Martinez is not “brave enough” to drop him, says Sam Allardyce.
Ronaldo is taking in an 11th international tournament at 39 years of age. He has figured in every game for Portugal at Euro 2024, but is yet to open his goal account. He missed an extra-time penalty in a last-16 showdown with Slovenia, leading to an emotional breakdown, and there have been suggestions that his nation would fare better if he were to be benched.
Ex-England boss Allardyce agrees with that assessment, telling the No Tippy Tappy Football podcast from William Hill of Ronaldo’s theatrics and the need for stronger management: “Given the talent that Portugal have in their squad, I think they’ve been quite disappointing. They’ve got so much talent and so much ability on the ball, but they’re having to carry Ronaldo now. Even though he is still very fit for his age, he simply doesn’t have the same energy levels anymore. The other players have to carry him and they’re good enough to do it, but he still hasn’t scored yet.
“Roberto Martínez won’t be brave enough to drop Ronaldo. When I was at Bolton I had to sit down Youri Djorkaeff – who was a World Cup winner – and tell him I thought his legs had gone. He didn’t take it very well and it’s not easy for the manager either. It’s a tough one for the manager in that position.”
Former Premier League boss Allardyce, who has faced Ronaldo on plenty of occasions down the years, added on the sight of CR7 crying on the field before eventually helping Portugal through in a penalty shootout: “I think Ronaldo’s tears were primarily down to what he wanted to achieve personally, rather than with Portugal as a team. At his level you have to be selfish, but where he didn’t do himself any favours was the last World Cup because he was throwing his hands around and dismissing everyone when they got knocked out. He’s passionate and wants to win. He never really played a part when they won the Euros in 2016 so he’ll want to win this for himself as much as the country.”
While Ronaldo is yet to score at this summer’s European Championship, Portugal are into the quarter-finals. They are preparing to face France in a heavyweight knockout encounter on Friday, with that contest set to see five-time Ballon d’Or winner Ronaldo come up against Real Madrid-bound Kylian Mbappe.
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