Good thing it's over: Cristiano Ronaldo’s cult of personality became unbearable - opinion

Cristiano Ronaldo's final World Cup appearance concluded not as a triumphant hero, but with a meticulously staged farewell performance that highlighted a perceived cult of personality over team success. While Ronaldo etched his name in history as the only player to score in six different World Cups and achieved numerous other scoring records, his exit was notably devoid of camaraderie from his teammates.

His final match saw him take more shots without creating a scoring chance for a teammate than any player since 1966, a statistic the author uses to illustrate a broader point about his individualistic approach. The article suggests that Ronaldo's focus on settling scores with journalists and his own ego overshadowed the team's needs, particularly in the crucial match against Spain.

"You cannot say anything critical about Cristiano Ronaldo on the Internet. Certainly not in Portugal," the piece notes, highlighting the difficulty of public criticism. However, it argues that Ronaldo could have offered more to his national team by embracing a role as an impact substitute, a decision his ego apparently prevented. The author posits that Ronaldo's ego mattered more to him than Portugal's success, leading to a "beautifully choreographed" exit, complete with feigned sadness for the cameras.

The narrative surrounding Ronaldo at the 2026 World Cup, according to the article, was once again dominated by the aging striker, overshadowing his teammates' careers. This self-centered approach, the author contends, prevented him from becoming a truly great figure who understood the team-centric nature of modern soccer.