A final chapter written with nothing but a lot of money?
But the question is whether it is not about maintaining a distorted and glorified self-image?
You can say a lot about Cristiano Ronaldo.
But something that’s hard to get used to is what it’s like to fall off a pedestal where you’ve thrived throughout your career in one form or another.
After all, not in his career has Cristiano Ronaldo experienced what he went through in the past six months – before what is now a surefire move to Saudi Arabia and victory.
When he broke through to Sporting Club, he was an amazing talent. When he moved to Manchester United, he took over the legendary number seven on his back from David Beckham and was a regular from the first minute. He was a clear goalscorer and offensive reference point for almost a decade at Real Madrid. Juventus risked entire club affairs for him when he was 33. Manchester United desperate to make a comeback hit a reality when he was 36.
When he won his first trophy, at the 2004 European Championships, it didn’t take him many games before he made his way into the national team starting eleven, which he was signed to himself and was a regular until a few weeks ago.
He broke records and was in the strongest spotlight his entire career, in a nutshell.
So this fall at Manchester United.
Autumn nightmare
Because it was at Erik ten Hags United he became second choice. For that, with his interview, he freed himself from a club he, in hindsight, should never have returned to in the first place.
With the hope of the world championships that will be introduced.
He ended up being kicked out of the starting line-up, with a quarter-final comeback against Morocco and an opponent who managed to achieve what they’ve never had, and most likely never will – winning World Cup gold.
He’s been offered everything from Chelsea to Eintracht Frankfurt in a desperate search to find where his aura as a world-class player can still rest – with no one to catch him.
The fact that he is now going to Saudi Arabia and taking money (more salary than any other footballer) can be interpreted as realizing his current limitations at the age of 37.
It can also be interpreted as not having done so and wanting to stay in his bubble.
The bubble in which the audience shouts “SIIIIUU” in chorus with him and cheers around the Golden Globes.
Where he still considers himself the biggest, the best and the most beautiful.
Because if there is one thing you can count on, it is that Cristiano Ronaldo’s ego and confidence will be as good as his wallet as he spends the next few years in Al-Nassr and the Saudi Football League.
Ronaldo “Saint Juniper”
He said with all due respect to the quality of football in Saudi Arabia, after all, it is not on the map that he will be on the bench there. It is not on the map that he will not be allowed to take all the free kicks, all the penalties and choose himself when, how and where to play. He will achieve his goals. will praise. It will be the center of the earth.
Or well, in his head anyway.
Aside from the fact that he secures his financial fortune for the foreseeable future, the victory feels like Cristiano Ronaldo himself’s answer to the Black Mirror episode “San Junipero.”
A virtual reality where retirees can remain young, happy and energetic even though time has already caught up with them in the real world.
While Kylian Mbappe and Erling Braut Haaland race down the big podiums, accompanied by Lionel Messi for at least a few more years, one of the best footballers in the world can still reign supreme. Stuck in his own little world.
Sad both ways? Absolutely.
But at least he set a new record.