There is rarely a dull week in the life of Cristiano Ronaldo. The Real Madrid superstar never strays too far from the spotlight, whether it is being romantically linked to Paris Hilton, making a multi-million-dollar transfer or scoring spectacular goals.
But even by his standards, the last few days provided a glut of talking points – ones that he would love to forget.
First up was the Ballon d’Or award, where Ronaldo surrendered his title as the best player in Europe to Barcelona’s brilliant Lionel Messi. If that came as no major shock, then the World Cup draw was a somewhat ruder awakening, as Ronaldo and his Portugal teammates were thrust into the 2010 version of the Group of Death.
A Group G matchup with heavyweights Brazil and Ivory Coast has electrified the soccer world, with the games between those sides among some of the most eagerly anticipated first-round clashes.
But for Ronaldo – a player who is sick of hearing his ability to supply peak performance in major tournaments questioned – the heightened danger of early elimination in South Africa is a definite source of stress.
“I can’t pretend I am happy about the draw,” he snapped. “Of course not.”
From the moment Portugal was pulled out of Pot Four and thrown into its fiery World Cup fate, discussion resumed about whether Ronaldo can handle the pressure of the sport’s biggest stages.
Maybe at Euro 2004 he was too young. Maybe at the 2006 World Cup he was too immature. Maybe at Euro 2008 he was distracted by talk of whether he would leave Manchester United. The well of excuses has run dry.
So with the gaze of soccer’s scrutinizing eye trained upon him more keenly than ever, what does Ronaldo do this weekend? He gets himself sent off.
Not for a couple of mistimed tackles or moderately acceptable lapses in judgment. His infractions in Real Madrid’s 4-2 victory over Almeria were of the utterly stupid variety.
First, he was yellow-carded for peeling off his shirt in celebration of the team’s fourth goal. Whatever your thoughts on this rule, Ronaldo knew the regulations and what punishment would inevitably follow. Then, with just moments left in the game, he lashed out in retaliation at Almeria’s Juanma Ortiz, leaving the referee no choice but to give him a second yellow.
By this point in Ronaldo’s career, we might have expected a few more answers. His talent cannot be questioned, but his temperament and maturity remain shadowed by doubt. And it is those psychological factors that will be most needed next summer, with ultimate glory and his reputation on the line.
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