Cristiano Ronaldo has heard it all before.
He’s too old. He’s holding Portugal back. He should retire. He shouldn’t start.
Yet somehow, the criticism keeps arriving no matter what he does.
That was the message coming from Portugal’s camp this week after another wave of scrutiny aimed at the 41-year-old superstar. Defender Ruben Dias dismissed much of the criticism surrounding Ronaldo as “media noise,” while Ronaldo himself admitted he has grown accustomed to being the target whenever Portugal struggles.
The latest controversy came during Portugal’s dramatic World Cup win over Croatia.
Ronaldo scored from the penalty spot, had another spectacular goal ruled out for offside, earned Man of the Match honors, and helped Portugal advance. Yet much of the post-match discussion centered around whether he should have been substituted earlier and whether Portugal would be better without him. That drew the ire of broadcaster and longtime Ronaldo supporter Piers Morgan, who blasted commentators for what he called relentless criticism of the Portuguese captain.
The pattern has become familiar.
When Portugal drew DR Congo in its World Cup opener, Ronaldo was criticized for looking his age. Days later he responded by becoming the first player ever to score in six different World Cups and followed it with a two-goal performance against Uzbekistan. Afterwards, Ronaldo acknowledged the criticism directly.
“I’m already used to it,” he said when discussing the attacks that follow Portugal whenever results disappoint.
Part of the reason is simple: expectations.
No player in football history has spent longer under the spotlight than Ronaldo. At 41, he is still being judged against the standards of his 25-year-old self. Most players his age are retired. Ronaldo is still starting knockout matches at a World Cup.
And while stars like Kylian Mbappe, Erling Haaland, and Lionel Messi dominate headlines, Ronaldo continues to attract criticism that often feels disproportionate compared to his actual performances.
The reality is that Ronaldo’s World Cup has been far from disastrous. He has made history, scored crucial goals, and helped Portugal reach the Round of 16. Whether Portugal ultimately beats Spain or not, the notion that Ronaldo is single-handedly holding the team back becomes harder to defend every time he delivers in a big moment.
At some point, the conversation may need to shift.
Instead of constantly asking whether Ronaldo is finished, perhaps it’s worth appreciating that football is watching a 41-year-old legend compete at a level nobody thought was possible.
