Let me be clear about Cristiano.
And I hope it's the last time I make such a declaration.
I am a lover of football first, foremost, and last.
I was never a fan of Ronaldo, nor did I ever really gravitate to his football aesthetically.
When your favorite players are Maradona / Zidane / Rui Costa / Figo etc - players who are collectivist and have a broader vision of the pitch - you just don't gravitate to Ronaldo.
However, I will say this. He is undoubtedly as great a player both in talent and achievement as any that has come before (or with) him. I prefer what Diego proposes with the ball. I don't think Ronaldo could ever replicate Diego's heroics in 86. But I don't think Diego could guarantee the inevitable goal against every opponent in the UCL and lead to a 3peat.
That is to say - Ronaldo is a pillar of our sport. There is no history of football without Ronaldo. Whether you like or dislike his football. Whether you like or dislike his personality. He has always been divisive - some of it is due to his personality and some of it due to an impossible and deepseated hatred in Anglo-media since 2006 that never let up and that we can all see. I have never seen a player travel to every stadium in England - even his own - and get booed for a year. And the scorn that he has had to face never let up - with vultures ready to pounce st the first sign of trouble.
Sport is about the human spirit. Teaching us to persevere against all odds. Consistency, discipline and courage when the going gets tough. THAT is the lesson sport imparts for our children. THAT is why some sportsmen are heroes.
What Ronaldo is doing at 41 is nothing short of an UNPRECEDENTED sporting achievement and act of singular heroism. The sheer amount of work necessary and the willpower to fight against the dying of the light to represent his country. An indomitable spirit. If that isn't enough to stir and inspire you - I don't what can. This is beyond commendable - it is inspiring. He has embarked on an impossible mission - to show us that the human spirit has no limits. Do we tell a an explorer NOT to attempt to travel to the moon? Because it is near impossible and fraught with risk? Or do we applaud and cheer on a man in his bravery? Food for thought.
But beyond that, the recent deluge of vitriol, wanton disrespect, and media pile-on is frankly disgusting and evil. It is evil because you are spitting in the face of a 150 year old tradition and culture that we call football. The culture we call home and brings together billions of people. Cristiano is football. And football is Cristiano. Whether you love, hate or are ambivalent about him. And for that, a modicum of respect as a fan of the game for OUR game is necessary.
To see charlatans and half-achievers and no-names aspire for clicks and media fame and buzz to keep their name going or out of some tragic, personal hate and dislike for a man is saddening. It is saddening because these people do not belong in the culture they desecrate. The culture they weaponize, utilize, and instrumentalize but provide nothing to. Today we reject these people. We won't accept them in our circle anymore.
Forza Cristiano. Against the dying of the light.
The crazy wins and memories Cristiano Ronaldo created with those UCL trophies is too iconic to be traded for a World Cup.
Without those UCL, he’d have been forgotten before now. That is his legacy, his tournament, his baby, he owns the UCL, he was immortal in UCL with Real Madrid.
For me, I can’t trade that for a World Cup. Never.
This is the biggest and best litmus test in football
Doesnt matter if you put Messi above him, that completely fine, but you have ZERO ball knowledge if you put him anywhere outside top 2, let alone “obviously not top 3”
Madrid fans who hate Ronaldo are the worst but atleast we know they weren't around our golden era.
They started watching after 2018 because whoever lived through prime Ronaldo and prime Real Madrid would never utter a single bad word about that man.
So now, it’s no more Mbappé’s fault that we went a season without winning a trophy.
What happened to, he doesn’t press?
What happened to he doesn’t stay in the box?
What happened to he doesn’t defend?
What happened to, he kills real Madrid’s redem when he is on the pitch?
What happened to all that accusations, narratives and agendas you are spreading on Kylian Mbappé just because he has outshone your favorite player and has now become the face of the biggest club in the world?
I am patient because I know you all will want to come back to his boat but by then it would already be too late.
Kylian Mbappé has come to stay at Real Madrid and make more history for himself and our dear club.
Mbappe is the best in all competitions.
Topscorer of Laliga
Topscorer of UCL
I don't know where this narrative of him being only good in the World Cup came from.
I’m certain and so sure that Kylian Mbappe is not only the best player of this generation, but he’s also one of the very greatests this game has ever seen.
I’m talking about the Maradona’s the Messi’s, the Ronaldos etc. Kylian sits comfortably with them on that table.
And at 27 the statistics speaks for itself.
What’s makes it even more crazier is that, a lot of legends we hail today retired without these numbers. But man’s not even appreciated enough because he set the standards so high at a very young age that, we don’t even see how great he is and he’s got to deal with that unfortunately.
Like I said earlier it’s that time of the year again and Kylian will be there. See you there too😉🫵🏾