Ronaldo needs to calm down

Despite being one of the greatest players of all time, Ronaldo is tarnishing his legacy with his childish antics and rude actions at Al-Nassr. He is not being a good role model for the young players who look up to him.

Ronaldo has always been arrogant, but people overlooked his personality when he was leading Real Madrid to glory in Europe.
However, now that he is older, his negative traits are more noticeable than his performance. He claimed he had nothing left to prove in Europe when he joined Al-Nassr for a huge fee last January, but the truth is he had no other options after falling out with Manchester United.

Ronaldo has been desperate to show he still matters, even though he said the opposite before. He cares more about his image than anything else at 39, and that self-centered attitude is putting his amazing career at risk.

Ronaldo's form

Ronaldo is enjoying his scoring spree at Al-Nassr, and he was the top scorer in the world in 2023. He loved to compete with young stars like Haaland from Manchester City and claimed he could keep playing for a decade, but he is not seeing the reality.

The Saudi Pro League is far from being among the best leagues in the world, even with more European players coming to the region. Ronaldo’s goals are not impressive to the true fans, who think he is just inflating his numbers while earning huge money.

That would be fine if he was still inspiring the kids who admire him and could accept that Al-Nassr is his last stop before he quits. But Ronaldo still thinks he is the best in the world, and takes any criticism as a personal insult.

Courting controversy

Ronaldo scored his 22nd goal of the season from the spot last Sunday, helping Al-Nassr to a vital 3-2 win over Al-Shabab that keeps them close to Al-Hilal at the top. But after the game, Ronaldo was more interested in the home fans than his team-mates.

Al-Shabab fans tried to annoy Ronaldo with Messi chants, and they succeeded, as social media showed the striker putting his hand to his ear and then making a rude gesture with his fist near his crotch.
It seemed clear Ronaldo was aiming at the fans, and the Saudi FA started an investigation, with a lot of public anger. Ronaldo was finally given a one-game suspension and 30,000 Saudi Riyals (£6,300) fine by an ethics and disciplinary panel.
The decision came after comments from famous Saudi journalist Waleed Al-Farraj, who had asked the FA to punish Ronaldo harshly.

Ronaldo previous escapes

During Al-Nassr's 2-0 defeat to Al-Hilal in the Riyadh Season Cup final on February 8, Cristiano Ronaldo faced more taunts comparing him to Messi. Expressing his frustration, Ronaldo, while making his way down the tunnel, responded to Al-Hilal supporters who threw a team scarf at him.

He appeared to rub the scarf near his crotch before throwing it back in the direction it came from. Despite the controversial incident, no sanctions were imposed, and Ronaldo received the benefit of the doubt, similar to a previous occurrence in April the previous year.

In another defeat to Al-Hilal during the final weeks of the 2022-23 Pro League season, Ronaldo, after the match, grabbed his crotch, sparking outrage from Saudi lawyer Nouf Bint Ahmad. She characterized the gesture as a "crime that requires detention and deportation" in a social media post. This led to an investigation into Ronaldo's actions, but he was eventually cleared of any wrongdoing.

Preserving his legacy

While Cristiano Ronaldo may not be contemplating retirement just yet, he ought to consider the impact of his actions on his legacy, which risks unnecessary damage if he continues to behave in an entitled manner. His son, Cristiano Junior, who has shown promise in his football journey, is likely looking up to him as a role model.

As part of his substantial £177 million per year ($215 million) contract with Al-Nassr, Ronaldo is obligated to serve as an ambassador for Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 project, aimed at economic diversification. While he has been active in promoting the country on social media, he must also set an example on the pitch, showcasing professionalism along with his performances.

Despite being past his prime, Ronaldo remains one of the most popular sports figures globally, boasting over 600 million Instagram followers. Given this immense influence, especially on the next generation of aspiring players, Ronaldo bears a responsibility to conduct himself appropriately. In his prime, he excelled when focusing on his game rather than external distractions, and returning to that approach is essential for a dignified conclusion to his career. As Al-Nassr competes on multiple fronts, including the pursuit of AFC Champions League glory, a strong finish to the season could set Ronaldo up for Portugal's Euro 2024 campaign.

If he maintains focus, Ronaldo has the potential to contribute significantly to Roberto Martinez's squad and propel them to the later stages of the tournament. Ultimately, Ronaldo must contemplate the legacy he desires. If he values securing a lasting place in football's Hall of Fame, it's time to eliminate any frivolous behavior and concentrate on his performance on the field.