Inside the mind of Cristiano Ronaldo as Euro 2024 tears given new context
Cristiano Ronaldo broke down in tears after missing a penalty during Portugal's dramatic round-of-16 win against Slovenia, a moment that showed how desperate he is to win Euro 2024
A Premier League footballer turned sports psychologist has explained Cristiano Ronaldo's tearful breakdown at Euro 2024 - and outlined why the Portugal captain is prepared to respond in style.
Ronaldo, 39, is desperate to win the Euros for the second time in his glittering career but he's so far failed to score during what could well be his last ever international tournament. His best opportunity came on Tuesday but in a sensational moment, Slovenia goalkeeper Jan Oblak saved his extra-time penalty.
After shedding tears while looking up at his emotional mum during the half-time break, a devastated Ronaldo then had his own goalkeeper, Diogo Costa, to thank for pulling off a tremendous one-on-one save in the dying embers before penalties. Costa went on to magnificently save three spot kicks in the shoot-out, after five-time Ballon d'Or winner Ronaldo had courageously made amends by scoring his second penalty of a dramatic night in Frankfurt.
Ex- Norwich and Tottenham striker Paul McVeigh, who faced Ronaldo during his 14-year professional career, now boasts a Masters degree in sports psychology and has offered an exclusive insight into how the Portuguese icon will look to reset ahead of Friday's mouth-watering quarter-final clash with France.
"At the end of the day, he's human," McVeigh told Mirror Football this week. "He makes mistakes, as much as he's been outstanding and phenomenal. He knows what he's doing. He has got the complete [package]. A, talent to do it, B, the athleticism to do it, and C, the experience to do it.
"So, you put all that together into a guy who's just been so great for so long into an exceptional team of players around him and sooner or later, he's going to score. I wouldn't be surprised if he scored a hat-trick in the next game, just because he's still dangerous."
The most talked-about aspect of Ronaldo's Euros campaign - after starting all four of Portugal's games - is how visible his emotions have been. Anguish, elation and frustration have been on full display, never more so than when he burst into tears at half-time in extra-time on Tuesday.
Critics have slammed Ronaldo's behaviour as embarrassing, pathetic and childish, but as McVeigh highlights, he's never been afraid show his emotion - unlike most elite footballers. "I'm not that surprised because we've seen it so often over the years that he is incredibly passionate, probably way more than a Harry Kane, you might say," the former Northern Ireland international, capped 20 times by his country, explained.
"Harry's obviously an incredibly passionate Englishman and he's one of the best strikers around, but doesn't really show it on the field in terms of his emotions. Generally, they don't get the better of him, whereas Cristiano is almost the complete opposite end of that spectrum.
Your turn! Should Cristiano Ronaldo retire if Portugal lose to France? Join the debate in the comments section
"He's so comfortable to show his emotions, as opposed to what most people think about what footballers have been over the years, which is trying to be big, brave, strong men, guys who don't really show their emotions. So I think, you know, he deserves a huge amount of credit just for allowing young boys and young girls to be able to see that you can show your emotions on the pitch and still be the best player."
McVeigh went on to say: "I think for 20 years, you've seen him being highly emotional. I'm going to say that it's only compared to other footballers. You're not comparing it to the men or anyone else, you're just comparing it to other footballers because traditionally, they haven't.
"I would also say there's just been a complete sea change in terms of how people are almost comfortable being seen on a football pitch. So for instance, whenever I started playing, almost one of the things that you never ever wanted to let your opposition player, defender, or even just the opposition team, is showing that you're hurt.
"It's almost like that kind of Roy Keane mentality. It's like having the 50-50 and even if your knee is absolutely killing, you don't want to show that you're hurt. Whereas for whatever reason why that's changed over the last 20 years, it is completely different now that players can show that they're hurt or can go down, and sometimes even feign injuries.
"It doesn't matter if they are hurt because within a split second they can be up and then do something. It's the same with Cristiano or any other player who's getting visibly upset or visibly emotional or frustrated or angry. It's the fact that within a split second they have the ball and they can go and do something that decides the game."
Ronaldo knows all about the stakes getting higher in tournament football, particularly since this is his sixth European Championship - an all-time record, having first made his bow in 2004. But the France game is especially significant, as it could signal the end of his international career, as the next World Cup isn't for another two years and Portugal have an abundance of attackers who can replace him.
So what question would Ronaldo need to ask himself if Portugal are indeed dumped out in Hamburg on Friday night? "I think it almost just comes down two things actually," McVeigh said.
"One is, are you enjoying it? You'd be actually surprised by how many players almost just feel like they've just fallen out of love with the game. They get a little bit disillusioned and feel like they're on autopilot a bit. It's actually amazing.
"From my own experience, whenever I stopped playing and in 2010 after nearly 20 years, I remember someone saying, 'Oh, do you miss it?' I was like, 'Absolutely not'. It's like waking up in the morning feeling like you don't have to run a marathon today. You're like, 'Thank goodness for that'.
"So the first thing would be like, do you enjoy it? And I think the display against Slovenia just shows that he does. Not necessarily that he's got a big smile on his face, but it's the fact that he's got so much passion and enthusiasm and still that huge desire to win, which I think sort of just sums up the answer that he does really enjoy it and still wants to do it.
"And then the second would be, is your body capable of doing it? And they're generally those two things which have been the biggest issues with players who get to the end of their career. And I know I experienced it as well.
"For me, it was, did I enjoy it? Yes, I still absolutely love doing it. Was my body capable of doing it? Didn't really think so. Just getting slower and, you know, wasn't strong enough to compete with these young, fitter guys coming in. So those two questions that."
Before Ronaldo asks himself those questions, though, he'll be hoping to answer his critics and reach the semi-finals.
Paul's book, 'The Stupid Footballer Is Dead', is available now as a paperback or ebook. You can find out more about Paul's work and connect with him via his LinkedIn page.
Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
Related
Share this page
Guest Posts by Easy Branches
