From Alan Shearer to Micah Richards: Legends Who Questioned Cristiano Ronaldo’s ‘Professionalism’

Cristiano Ronaldo is a born leader. The Portuguese superstar has a legendary reputation, not just for his extraordinary skill on the field but also for his unwavering discipline. Amid these honors, CR7 has found himself in the crosshairs of criticism regarding his sporting dedication. Gather around, as today we’ll be looking at such moments when Cristiano Ronaldo’s professionalism was called into question, featuring insights from notable figures like Alan Shearer and Micah Richards.

The majority of the criticism was garnered by the veteran during his second spell at Manchester United. The incident dates back to October 2022, following the Red Devils’ triumph over Tottenham at Old Trafford. Cristiano Ronaldo walked away from the match before full-time, displaying his discontent after being left on the bench as an unused substitute. Let’s dive deeper to hear out what the renowned pundits commented on his professionalism. 

1) Gary Lineker 

Cristiano Ronaldo became a target for Gary Lineker. While speaking on Match of the Day, Lineker said, “We all know what a great player he has been, but walking off the pitch as a substitute two minutes before the game has finished…I’m sorry, that is unacceptable. That is poor.” 

2) Micah Richards 

Interestingly, in the very same discussion, Richards also disagreed with CR7’s furious antics against Spurs. He said, “For someone we have looked up to for so long, one of the greats of the game. To do that when your team are winning, making it all about him. It is unacceptable.” 

3) Alan Shearer

Alan Shearer also joined in following Cristiano Ronaldo’s behavior against Spurs. Shearer criticized him for his actions, highlighting an essential rule of soccer: that a team’s victories and defeats are shared experiences. He claimed that such self-centered actions had no place on the sidelines. The Newcastle legend deemed his act a “display of selfishness and petulance.” He also branded Ronaldo as “desperately unprofessional” and a “terrible example.” 

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4) Frank Leboeuf

In a talk with FairBettingSites, Leboeuf praised Erik ten Hag for taking disciplinary action against Ronaldo by excluding him from the squad in the 2022 match against Chelsea. He further commented that the 5x Ballon d’Or winner thought he was more significant than the manager. He also highlighted Ronaldo’s tendency to express dissatisfaction through gestures and restlessness whenever he wasn’t on the field.

5) Jamie O’Hara

Although Jamie O’Hara said that Manchester United’s performance against Spurs was their best of the season, he questioned Cristiano Ronaldo’s actions. While labeling him a ‘disgrace’, the Tottenham legend said, “How disrespectful is that to your teammates? It’s not good enough.” 

What are your thoughts on this? Let us know in the comments. 

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