“Difficult to Watch This Version of Cristiano Ronaldo” – Portuguese Superstar Torn to Shreds After Firing Blank and Getting Suspended Against Favorite Victims

Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the most lethal finishers in the history of the sport. In the recent Euro Qualifier against Slovakia, however, the Portuguese made a rather strange attempt to double the lead for his side. Ronaldo miskicked the ball in the penalty box and then slid toward it, catching the Slovakian goalkeeper with a stray foot. In a post-match analysis, ESPN’s pundits had some scathing remarks for the 5-time Ballon d’Or winner.

Shaka Hislop in particular, really chewed out the Al Nassr talisman. The former Portsmouth keeper was not amused with how Ronaldo performed for Portugal, mentioning he may be past his best years. The enigmatic forward is now suspended for his next game against Luxembourg and will fail to add to his tally of eleven international goals against the Grand Duchy.

Soccer pundit rips into Cristiano Ronaldo for shambolic performance

Hislop alongside Sebastian Salazar and Ale Morena discussed Portugal’s performance against Slovakia in Group J. Portugal currently leads the group with a perfect record in five matches. In a narrow 1-0 victory, courtesy of a Bruno Fernandes goal, Hislop was left surprised that Ronaldo was still a part of the team.

“Listen, I think Ronaldo’s status within the team was decided during the World Cup. I really thought Portugal had moved on and I’m a little bit surprised to see Ronaldo involved in this capacity,” he said.

“Right now, as a neutral and a fan of the game, it’s difficult to watch this version of Cristiano Ronaldo. Because we know how good of a player he is. He is only involved with Portugal because of who he once was, not because of who he is now,”  added the pundit.

There has been a lot of criticism surrounding Cristiano Ronaldo in recent weeks. Multiple pundits believe that Roberto Martinez might have lost the plot with his team selection. While the veteran’s presence adds experience to the team, many believe he is taking a shovel at opportunities that can be given to younger players.

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Hislop, moreover, was not done with his criticism as he believed that the man with the record for most goals scored in football history was hogging the spotlight due to his achievements from the past. He made a curious claim on CR7’s involvement in the national team going forward.

Shaka Hislop slams Ronaldo for hogging the spotlight

The former West Ham United star feels that this was the right time for Ronaldo to walk away from international duty, with the likes of Goncalo Ramos and Joao Felix waiting in the wings.

“To Ale’s point, we are not really judging Ronaldo now against Ronaldo of the past. We are judging Ronaldo now with any striker presented with that kind of opportunity, at this level of the game.”  Speaking on the reverence Ronaldo holds, he said, “Do that and you’ll be left out next time around.” 

Further, he added, “And I think that’s a disservice to the Portuguese national team. And to those players who can rightfully claim that starting position” 

The World Cup which Ronaldo declared his last saw him not only fail to win his most coveted prize but also be dropped from the starting eleven over the course of the tournament. His replacement. Goncalo Ramos, the now PSG frontman went on to score a hat trick in the very next game. Many believed this was a sign that the once great had seen his final days in the sun.

With the team hoping to lift the Euros, this could be the right time to transition away from the Portuguese great and usher the team into a new generation. Portugal will be looking to establish their might against Luxembourg. It will be interesting to see how the team fares without their greatest sportsmen, as Cristiano Ronaldo will now serve a one-game suspension.

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