English Media: Ronaldo’s Assist Can’t Mask Decline in Shooting and Heading, Like an Entertainer on Reality TV Show

On June 23, in the second round of Group F of the Euro Cup, Portugal defeated Turkey 3-0. The UK’s Independent newspaper criticized Ronaldo despite his assist, stating that his shooting and heading abilities have deteriorated, and the knockout stages will test manager Martinez’s courage to drop him from the starting lineup.

The Independent highlighted Ronaldo’s standout moment in the match: “His shocking pass to B Fee when through on goal was astonishing, and his ability to beat defenders with stepovers may not have been seen for a decade.”

The newspaper praised Portugal’s overall performance while pointing out Ronaldo’s misfit: “Portugal’s defense was solid, and their midfield and forward passes were smooth. New team leaders B Fee and B Silva both scored, which is highly significant. Other players on the field moved fluidly, while Ronaldo appeared static. Despite maintaining a high scoring rate in qualifiers, he is enduring his longest international match goal drought. His shooting and heading prowess have started to wane. Martinez should consider benching him for the knockouts.”

The Independent compared Ronaldo’s presence on the pitch to that of an entertainment celebrity: “As long as Ronaldo is on the field, the spotlight is on him, and the cheers from fans are for him. During the game, several fans rushed onto the pitch to take pictures and interact with him, one child even succeeding in doing so. Ronaldo’s family watching from the box also drew media attention, but when he provided the assist to B Fee, Georgina in the stands showed no emotion. Ronaldo on the field feels like an entertainer participating in a reality TV show.”