Cristiano Ronaldo looking to end World Cup jinx as Portugal take on Croatia
· Yahoo Sports
Among the relatively short list of Cristiano Ronaldo's career 'have nots,' lifting the FIFA World Cup ranks prominently — but first, finding the back of the net in a knockout game might be a more immediate concern.
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The Portuguese superstar is competing at his sixth World Cup — a joint record. He has featured in 25 matches — four shy of the all-time record. While that speaks to his remarkable longevity, it makes his dismal knockout stage record all the more striking.
Ronaldo's — and by extension Portugal's — World Cup campaign has been overshadowed by questions over whether Father Time has finally caught up with him. Underwhelming displays against DR Congo and Colombia, in which Portugal managed just one goal across 180 minutes, were blamed on a lack of team cohesion — for which Ronaldo was held accountable.
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His brace against Uzbekistan, appearing at their first World Cup and ranked 60th in the world, represented about as hollow a 'response' as one could imagine. His army of supporters, spearheaded by Piers Morgan, pointed to his predatory instincts, yet that killer edge remains conspicuously absent when the stakes are highest, as per The Mirror.
Ronaldo's overall World Cup record is hardly inspiring as it stands, and his lack of knockout goals perhaps reflects that reality. His standout 2006 performances, when he helped Portugal reach the semifinals, came before he evolved into the global phenomenon he would become. That team's achievements were overwhelmingly built on collective strength, not a single superstar.
Since that point, the five-time Ballon d'Or winner has witnessed his last three World Cups conclude at the group stage (2014), the Round of 16 (losing against Uruguay), and the quarter-finals (losing against Morocco).
Ronaldo netted a hat-trick in a group stage stalemate with Spain in 2018 and also found the back of the net against Morocco in that tournament - bringing his tally to four goals - his most productive World Cup performance. For comparison, Harry Kane's best stands at six, Kylian Mbappe's at eight, and Lionel Messi's at seven.
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Ronaldo's six remaining goals have arrived in group games against Iran, North Korea, Ghana (twice), and the double he recently claimed against Uzbekistan.
This hardly represents the record of someone who has established themselves as among the sport's premier marksmen. Rather, it suggests someone who capitalizes on opportunities against weaker opposition but struggles to deliver when the stakes are highest.
While this certainly doesn't reflect Ronaldo's overall career trajectory, there's no disputing that his greatest achievements have occurred at the club level. Unlike longtime adversary Messi, who can claim an exceptional international legacy alongside his club accomplishments.
Croatia offers Ronaldo his next opportunity to shed the knockout stage burden. The 2018 runners-up placed second behind England in their group, yet have proven themselves to be a savvy tournament side. Ronaldo has scored twice against the Croatians - the latest occurring two years ago in the Nations League.
There has been minimal willingness from Portugal to alter their attacking lineup, with Ronaldo clearly the player Roberto Martinez will rely upon. He recently suggested that benching or substituting the greatest goalscorer in soccer history would be an absurd decision.
-Credit:Icon Sportswire, Icon Sportswire via Getty ImagesPerhaps so if this was Ronaldo at his peak, but the current version is not the same force. After shutting him out, DR Congo midfielder Ngal'ayel Mukau stated they had no specific strategy to handle the 41-year-old, noting: "We know he isn't the same as before. He's a bit older now."
Martinez utilized 22 members of his roster in the World Cup group stage, rotating everyone except one. Ronaldo featured for every minute. Logic suggests that making your oldest player your most utilized player isn't the smartest approach.
Looking back four years, former Portugal manager Fernando Santos demonstrated the bravery to bench Ronaldo for the Round of 16 game against Switzerland. Portugal wound up winning 6-1 - their largest World Cup margin of victory since 2010.
Few individuals seem to crave the personal spotlight like the Real Madrid legend. In contrast, great rival Messi and former teammate Luka Modric are comfortable operating quietly. Modric has become the oldest player ever to register an assist at a World Cup. Messi's contributions are widely documented, all overshadowing Ronaldo.