Discussion of Cristiano Ronaldo's greatness: the influence of trophies on his legacy

In Peter Crouch's autobiography, whose slender figure was initially mocked but later allowed him to build an impressive career in the Premier League, a secret from Cristiano Ronaldo's dressing room was revealed.

Dressing Room Stories

Crouch never shared a dressing room with the Manchester United legend, as he played for the Red Devils' bitter rivals, Liverpool. Nevertheless, by participating in two World Cups (in 2006 and 2010) for England, he scored 22 goals in 42 international matches. It was in the England national team's dressing room that he heard stories about Ronaldo from former Manchester United teammate Rio Ferdinand.

In his book 'Walking Tall: My Story,' Crouch, who still holds the record for the most headed goals in Premier League history, described Ronaldo standing shirtless in front of a mirror, fixing his hair and admiring his incredible physique. Crouch recorded how other United players tried to tease him: 'Anything. Leo Messi is a better player than you,' Crouch wrote. Ronaldo merely shrugged at this and smiled again: 'Oh yes. But Messi doesn't look like that...'

Ambition and Training

Much was said about Ronaldo's ego, but many of his former teammates at Manchester United were amazed by the scale of his ambition since joining the English giant as a teenager in 2003. Phil Neville, a former United defender, noted that it was frightening to watch Ronaldo's obsession with becoming the best player in the world. During a BBC 5 Live interview, Neville emphasized that the vast Carrington training complex pales in comparison to Ronaldo's relentless efforts to perfect his skills.

Neville recalled: 'I saw the sacrifices he made, I saw how he developed at a young age at Manchester United. He even told us, 'I want to be the best footballer on the planet.' The Carrington training complex is perhaps a mile, two miles around. Every day he took the ball and practiced his tricks a mile, two miles. His determination and ability to train every day are simply phenomenal.'

It can be said that it was this tireless persistence in working on his game that brought him five Ballon d'Or awards and numerous goalscoring records. What he lacked in pure natural ability, especially compared to the unique talents of Messi, his main rival, Ronaldo compensated for by following one simple life principle—he continued to be the first to arrive at training and the last to leave, every day of his life.

World Cups and Disappointment

It was this dedication that led him to the sixth World Cup at the age of 41. In North America, despite form issues, he became the first player to score in six consecutive World Cups. However, he desired the trophy himself the most. This dream of winning his country's first World Cup sustained him. Portugal's defeat by Spain, the reigning European champion, in the round of 16 on Monday ended Ronaldo's hopes of adding the single missing trophy to his cabinet.

Television cameras focused on the Portuguese captain after the final whistle, where Ronaldo looked like a man who knew his time was up. It was a tournament where he looked weakest, and his three goals masked a lack of influence on the team. He took 17 shots on goal, none of which created a scoring opportunity for his teammates. Against Spain, he played 90 minutes plus extra time, without getting close to a promising position for a goal. He had only 19 touches in the game—the second lowest for him in a World Cup match for Portugal.

His link-up play with his teammate also did not lead to a decisive move for Portugal in the final third. For a player of Ronaldo's caliber, these statistics are horrifying, especially after poor performances against Congo and Colombia. Later, in the mixed zone, when reporters asked if the bottle remained half-empty after his latest failure on the big stage, Ronaldo answered in his usual style, speaking about himself in the third person and asserting that the Euro 2016 victory was as significant as the World Cup victory. He stated: 'Before Cristiano, Portugal won nothing. The Euros were the most important. For me, 2016 has the same significance as the World Cup, honestly.'

Legends and Standards of Greatness

However, deep down, Ronaldo understands that the continental championship, no matter how good its quality, can never compare to the magic of the World Cup. This is where legends become immortal. It is the stage where Pelé became a global phenomenon at 17, playing a key role in Brazil's first World Cup triumph in 1958. The World Cup also elevated Diego Maradona to mythical status after his magical individual performances in 1986, which brought Argentina its second World Cup title.

It is noteworthy that the World Cup never saw the true greatness of the Brazilian Ronaldo, who was a force of nature at the club level before a serious knee injury threatened to end his career. He miraculously recovered for the 2002 World Cup, scoring eight goals, including two in the final, to secure Brazil's fifth title. Ronaldo was magnificent in that tournament, but he never reached the heights of his pre-injury version at PSV Eindhoven, Barcelona, and Inter. Nevertheless, without the World Cup trophy, his legacy would be different.

Many experts draw parallels between the Brazilian Ronaldo and Messi. The Argentinian was a shadow of the player he was at Barcelona when he led Argentina to its third World Cup title in Qatar in 2022. At 35, Messi did not possess the same speed and explosive dribbling ability, but his vision as a playmaker and chemistry with teammates helped him reach his peak. When he looks back on his journey, Ronaldo will undoubtedly feel what could have been.

Conclusion on Standards

The question of whether the World Cup is the ultimate measure for a player to become the greatest will remain a subject of heated debate. Johan Cruyff, the Dutch maestro, lost the only World Cup final he participated in, despite leading perhaps the greatest international team of all time in 1974. From a technical standpoint, old footballers believe that the Argentine icon Alfredo Di Stéfano was even a better player than Pelé, Maradona, and Messi. However, Di Stéfano never won the World Cup. And it was Ronaldo who broke Di Stéfano's record for goals at Real Madrid.

The son of a kit worker at a local Portuguese club, Andorinha, who struggled with alcoholism, Ronaldo experienced a difficult childhood. At 12, while studying in the Sporting youth team in Lisbon, Ronaldo often went hungry and sometimes secretly left the dormitory in the middle of the night to ask for leftover burgers at the nearest McDonald's. This hunger shaped him as a footballer. Perhaps he failed in his last attempt to win the World Cup, but his greatness lies in his obsession with striving to be better and in the sacrifices he made every day, which inspired awe even in elite footballers.

www.egyptindependent.comJune 25, 10:47

Information on team qualifications in the World Cup playoffs and the objectives of today's matches

Despite a possible slight delay, Cristiano Ronaldo joined the World Cup celebrations, demonstrating his talent with two goals that attracted attention yesterday. This match followed a rather dull encounter between England and Ghana.

Group Stage Phase

The tournament is now becoming more complex as the final round of the group stage begins, featuring six games today. These matches will determine which teams advance to the playoffs and which will be eliminated.

Although fully understanding all possible combinations requires deep mathematical knowledge, the main points can be explained. Starting today, countries are playing their final group matches, and both games in the respective groups will begin simultaneously.

Qualification Rules

Group winners and mid-table teams automatically advance to the Round of 32. Initial placement is determined by the number of points accumulated. If two teams have the same number of points, the deciding factor is their head-to-head meeting. If this does not help separate the teams, goal difference is used. In the extreme case, goal statistics and fair play rules are applied, but such situations occur very rarely.

A feature of the current tournament is the participation of a record 48 teams. This means that in addition to the 24 teams that qualify automatically, there is room for another eight teams that finished third in their groups.

Overall, 12 teams finishing third will enter their own mini-ranking, where their position will depend on the points accumulated. The top eight teams from this group will join the playoff bracket. Thus, only 16 teams will be eliminated after the group stage. Haiti, Tunisia, Panama, Jordan, and Turkey have already confirmed their elimination.

Group B Matches

In the Switzerland versus Canada match, where both teams have earned four points, the winner will determine the group standing. In case of a draw, the advantage in goal difference will give the win to the home team. Canada, showing strong attacking play in the second match, is set for another victory. If Switzerland loses to Canada, and Qatar fails to beat Bosnia in another Group B match, Switzerland will take the mid-table spot. However, regardless of the result, both teams, having four points, are likely to reach the Round of 32 as one of the top eight third-placed teams.

In the Bosnia and Herzegovina versus Qatar match, the situation is less clear. The losing team is eliminated from the competition. If the match ends in a draw, Qatar is eliminated. If Bosnia wins, it may take second place in the group, but it will have to hope for a poor performance by Switzerland against Canada. Nevertheless, neither a draw nor a Bosnian victory can guarantee it a spot among the top third-placed teams.

Tournament News and Statistics

Cristiano Ronaldo became the first player to score in six editions of the World Cup, following his double yesterday. He ignored criticism of his performance in Portugal's first match, scoring in a convincing 5-0 victory over Uzbekistan. The 41-year-old athlete shouted 'I’m back' twice, addressing both spectators and opponents.

Regarding statistics, Ronaldo has become the record holder for goals in six tournaments. Lionel Messi, who turns 39 today, has also participated in six World Cups but did not score in 2010. This achievement, requiring longevity at the elite level, is unlikely to be surpassed anytime soon.

Group C and A Matches

In the Scotland versus Brazil match, where both teams have a rich history, Scotland aims to surprise the five-time champion, knowing that a victory will secure its place in the playoffs. Brazil has likely already advanced; it only needs Morocco to perform better than Haiti to become the group leader. Scotland, with three points, might advance to the playoffs even if it loses to Brazil, provided it is not a crushing defeat.

In the Morocco versus Haiti match, Haiti has already been eliminated after the first two defeats and is playing for pride. Morocco will take second place if Brazil beats Scotland, or lead the group if it surpasses Brazil's result, but this will require many goals against Haiti. The African team, having earned four points, is effectively qualified. French coach Didier Deschamps, 57, will temporarily leave the tournament following the death of his mother, and the French Football Federation announced that he will miss the last group match against Norway to attend the funeral.

In the Czech Republic versus Mexico match, the host country's fans know that their team will become the champion of Group A by winning the first two matches. This may allow them to rest some players before the Round of 32, which could improve the chances of the Czech Republic. A victory will give the Czech Republic good chances to advance either as a mid-table team or as one of the top third-placed teams.

For South Korea, it is simple: a win or a draw against South Africa will see them become mid-table. South Africa has shown weak results, but it needs to beat South Korea to contend for second place. A win will also likely secure them a spot among the top third-placed teams if the Czech Republic beats Mexico.

Award Ceremony

FIFA President Gianni Infantino confirmed that he and Donald Trump will present the trophy to the winner on the field at MetLife Stadium, reminiscent of the Club World Cup ceremony last summer. Infantino stated that they will enjoy the final together with the president and present the trophy. During last year's ceremony, Trump remained in the spotlight, causing confusion among some players.