DOHA – Cristiano Ronaldo said on Sunday “there’s no point in reacting in the heat of the moment”, as he responded to Portugal’s World Cup elimination.
He stayed in Qatar as many of the Portugal squad returned home and landed in Lisbon on Sunday afternoon.
“To win a World Cup for Portugal was the biggest and most ambitious dream of my career. Fortunately, I won many titles of international dimension, including for Portugal,” the 37-year-old wrote on Instagram.
His post did not talk about international retirement but he started Portugal’s last two matches in Qatar on the bench, a decision which provoked debate in Portugal and across the football world.
“Let’s hope that time will be a good counsellor and allow everyone to draw their own conclusions,” he wrote.
The Instagram post was accompanied by a photo showing Ronaldo, head down, trudging off the field in Doha after the 1-0 quarter-final loss to Morocco on Saturday.
His former Selecao teammate Luis Figo was more blunt in laying the blame. Spanish daily Sport quoted the former Barcelona and Real Madrid player as saying: “You can’t win the World Cup with Cristiano on the bench.
“Leaving Cristiano Ronaldo on the bench was a mistake. This defeat is the responsibility of (Portugal coach) Fernando Santos.”
Ronaldo, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner, was playing in his fifth World Cup. As soon as the final whistle blew, he headed down the tunnel with tears streaming down his face.
His former teammate at Manchester United, Gary Neville, called it a “horrible image”, despite the fact he was critical of the Portuguese star during the later stages of his second coming at Old Trafford.
Neville said on Sky Sports: “That was a horrible image for me. That’s that moment where he knows his dream of winning the World Cup for his country has gone.
“We’ve all been there at the end of our careers, but he’s one of the greatest, if not the greatest player of all time. It was horrible to see him like that. He’s had a tough couple of months.”
Ronaldo is without a club after a bitter divorce with United.
According to the Portuguese press, the Selecao captain threatened to leave the squad after he was dropped from the starting line-up, but that was denied by Santos, who will meet Portuguese Football Association officials to discuss his own future.
“I just want everyone to know that a lot was said, a lot was written, a lot was speculated, but my dedication to Portugal didn’t change for an instant,” Ronaldo added.
“I was always one more player fighting for everyone’s goal and I would never turn my back on my teammates and my country.
“In the five World Cups I played, always alongside great players and supported by millions of Portuguese, I gave it my all. I left everything on the field. I never turned my back on the fight and I never gave up on this dream.
“Unfortunately, yesterday the dream ended. The dream was beautiful while it lasted.”
Portugal centre-back Pepe was asked about his former Real teammate, as he returned on Sunday. He said Ronaldo was “fine”.
“He is our Portuguese flag-bearer who reaches all parts of the world,” added Pepe, who broke his arm during Saturday’s game at Al Thumama Stadium but continued to play on.
“He gave his contribution when called upon. And I have to thank him and all my teammates who tried to do their best. They worked as hard as they could to be available to the coach – and when that is the case, everything is easier.”
AFP, XINHUA
