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Lay off Cristiano! Ronaldo is too great for his legacy to be tarnished

Cristiano Ronaldo has been in the news after walking away from the Portugal national team – but this latest episode does not change how great his legacy remains.

Published: Monday, 5 October 2026 at 5:04 AM
Lay off Cristiano! Ronaldo is too great for his legacy to be tarnished
Key Things to Know
  • Paul Macdonald argues that Cristiano Ronaldo's recent behavior and decline cannot tarnish his all-time great football legacy.
  • Macdonald notes that Jorge Jesus is no longer indulging Ronaldo as the forward struggles to accept his declining abilities.
  • The writer highlights that Ronaldo pushed Lionel Messi to historic heights through more than a decade of unmatched consistency.
The Story in 60 Seconds

Paul Macdonald of FootballTransfers argues that Cristiano Ronaldo's current struggles and petulant behavior cannot ruin his status as an all-time great. Macdonald acknowledges that Ronaldo has become difficult to support in the twilight of his career, notably pointing to his frustration over reduced playing time for Portugal and coach Jorge Jesus's decision to stop indulging him.

Despite recent decline and controversy, the writer contends that Ronaldo's sustained brilliance from 2006 to 2019 alongside Lionel Messi secures an unimpeachable legacy. Macdonald urges football fans to disregard this late-career decline and remember Ronaldo for his extraordinary longevity and peak performances.

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