All posts tagged: Ronaldo tears World Cup

‘Whose tears were these, Cristiano’? Portugal’s press turns on Ronaldo

‘Whose tears were these, Cristiano’? Portugal’s press turns on Ronaldo

Published by Webster

Cristiano Ronaldo’s international career at World Cups ended in tears on Monday night, as Spain’s Mikel Merino scored in the first minute of second-half stoppage time to eliminate Portugal 1-0 in the round of 16. Ronaldo, 41, wept on the pitch after the final whistle, thanking the more than 70,000 fans present, and was seen being consoled by Spain’s 18-year-old Lamine Yamal, an image that went viral in both countries. A Bola’s own match chronicle, headlined “How many of your tears, Cris, are tears for Portugal?”, repurposed the opening line of Fernando Pessoa’s “Mar Portugues” to frame the exit. It credited Portugal’s defence for keeping the tie level as long as it did. A bola also noted that Martinez had told broadcaster RTP before the tournament he believed strongly in the numerology of the number 6; Portugal was eliminated on the 6th, by a goal from Spain’s No. 6, Merino. A separate A Bola opinion column, headlined “Cristiano Ronaldo: we don’t want to ‘kill’ you, but enough”, put the blame for the exit on head …

Ronaldo’s FIFA World Cup dream dies in Dallas at the hands of Merino & Spain

Ronaldo’s FIFA World Cup dream dies in Dallas at the hands of Merino & Spain

Published by Parlour News

The biggest dream of Cristiano Ronaldo would remain unconquered forever. The man that guzzled most records and trophies football could offer would slip into the sunset without its greatest prize, the World Cup. It was the dream, to kiss it, to hold it into the skies, to sleep it with like a baby; the fuel that kept him burning at 41, that made him rise above the aches and niggles of sculpted but battered body; the trolls and memes; the tactical burden he put on his team, the shimmering ego that most have whispered him to retreat to the shadows a long ago. His eyes were cold, almost numb. It was perhaps the moment he reconciled with his unfulfilled dream. He walked without emotions, immune to the commiseration of his own men, to the handshakes and hugs of the victorious Spanish team, including the gate-crasher of his dream, Mikel Merino. Perhaps, he was emotionally drained; or devastated beyond belief, or the pain of parting an arena that was never his. Then the tears rolled down; …