“You can’t defend those who don’t deserve it” – Corriere.it

Not even Georgina, sitting in the gallery, can console him. In the end, Ronaldo cries and goes into the locker room alone: ​​his fifth World Cup is the saddest one because it ends badly and because it will be his last.

Fernando Santos sent him to the bench for the second consecutive time, only to throw him into the fray after six minutes of the second half, clinging to the man who lined up 5 Ballon d’Ors and lifted the Champions League 5 times. But Cristiano is no longer the player who changed destiny by himself. Every time he tries to light up he is attacked by one, sometimes two, red-shirted players who take his breath away. The last performance at the age of 37 is trivial, not like him: he would have dreamed of another leave, perhaps a redemption after the controversies and exclusions. And instead the only occasion, precisely in the 90th minute, a right footed shot at the near post from a tempting position was deflected by the cat Bounou. CR7’s reign is over. If he really will accept Al Nassr’s offer
and he will go to Saudi Arabia we will no longer see him at certain levels. The final decision has yet to be taken, but it seems a necessary path given that, until now, none of the big European teams has thought of him after the turbulent divorce from Manchester United. Ronaldo was hoping for a relaunch of the World Cup.

He wanted to hook up with the legend Eusebio, who scored 9 goals in the World Cup with the Portugal shirt and instead stops at 8. He also wanted to stand up to Messi, but he can no longer find that level, thanks to a season in fits and starts and the years that pass. Cristiano was the saddest of all, says Fernando Santos, the coach who demoted him, giving him the last blow, the hardest. But I’m not sorry, he says, and if I lose my job it won’t be because of this choice that many in their homeland have shared. Also for this Ronaldo embittered. But silent. He speaks for his family. And they are poisonous words.

Georgina’s partner just scratches the coach: Your coach friend, the same one for whom you always have words of admiration and respect, made a bad decision. The same that, when you entered, he saw how the game changed. But it was too late. You can’t underestimate the best player in the world and you can’t defend someone who doesn’t deserve it. Life gives us lessons. Today we have not lost… we have learned, the long post. Caustics Sister Elma Aveiro: They killed a man, a national team and a nation. Santos’ ears will ring.