Tears flowed across the world and left their mark on Cristiano Ronaldo’s career. When the Portuguese captain made that solitary walk to the changing rooms at the Al Thumama stadium in Doha after being eliminated from the 2022 World Cup at the hands of Morocco, many thought that CR7’s legend with the Seleção had come to an end. A sad end. Fernando Santos left, Roberto Martinez came in, Ronaldo stayed and even reinforced the undisputed status that seemed to be losing. It was not necessary to say a single word for everyone to know that the objective was only one: to be in the Euros.

But under what conditions? And with what role? After all, after the 2022 World Cup, Ronaldo went to Saudi Arabia, almost in footballing exile. He played, played and played. He scored, scored and scored. He was even the top scorer of the 2023 calendar year, ahead of Mbappé, Haaland or Harry Kane, but there were still doubts. Was Ronaldo ready to take on the starting role and his usual leadership at the age of 39 at a European Championship? Martinez had no doubts: “He is ready to help the team and give everything he can. There is no other player in world football who can give the dressing room what Cristiano can.”the national coach said on June 7, six days before leaving for Germany.

Portugal (Group F). The new era that begins with Ronaldo’s departure took shape after a dream start

Even before leaving on June 11, Ronaldo stepped away from the spotlight and took on a more supportive role with the team: “I want to be a player who helps others, someone to look up to, to see as a role model and to be a good professional.” It was precisely by sharing the spotlight that Ronaldo experienced the highlight of this Euro, when he assisted Bruno Fernandes in front of goal against Turkey. And in light of that moment, and despite coming away with zero, Martínez insisted on reminding several times of the importance that CR7 has in the team’s game, even without scoring.

But what does Ronaldo really matter when the goal doesn’t come, as happened once again? The Observer followed the captain throughout the 120 minutes (and penalties) of the Portugal-Slovenia match and pointed out everything – or almost everything – that needed to be pointed out about the number 7. Here’s a look at Cristiano Ronaldo’s performance in the Euro 2024 round of 16 ahead of the clash with France.

The emotion in the eyes of a vagabond (at the beginning)

In the first match of the 2022 World Cup, Ronaldo could not resist the emotion of playing – who knows – the last World Cup of his career and cried listening to A Portuguesa. Today he did not cry – during the anthem – but he was close. The Portuguese captain had red eyes and was complaining about the possibility that today would be his last game at a European Championship. It wasn’t, but the emotion was there. So much so that, even before the emotional minute of silence in memory of Manuel Fernandes, Ronaldo went up to the bench to wash his hands and face with water from a bottle. Then he picked up the ball, kissed it, put it on the pitch and as soon as Bruno Fernandes kicked the ball he accelerated towards the opposite half of the field. Nobody could have ever imagined what was to come after more than 130 minutes of play.

Ronaldo’s emotions during the anthem

But let’s look at the first ones. CR7 was a bit lazy until the 10th minute. In the first five minutes he dropped to the left wing. From the fifth to the tenth minute he dropped more to the right, never playing as a pivot, never fixed in the middle. But he didn’t attack the spaces much either, to the point that, in the 20th minute, Roberto Martínez took advantage of a dead ball to talk to Ronaldo: with his gestures he asked him to attack deeper, to try to break the ball. defensive line more. Cristiano nodded and gave the thumbs up. But the runs he made were always “false”. The captain never really attacked the space – the Slovenian defence did not allow it either – but he tried a first sprint several times and then stopped, letting the defenders follow him and receive further back. He opted for this strategy several times – running hard and changing direction – which left him free to head the ball three times, but he always had half a dozen centimetres to be happy with. Only after 30 minutes Ronaldo touched the ball with his head for the first time.

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Portugal’s average positioning and main passing tendencies so far. Moving up but only one shot attempted. Short#BYRSVN #EURO2024 #SharingThePassion pic.twitter.com/QRyOh4V0LE

— GoalPoint (@_Goalpoint) July 1, 2024

The various attempts frustrated the captain. In the 35th minute, after several narrowly missed headers, Cristiano experienced his first moment of greatest frustration. He barely touched his head again and opened his arms screaming to the sky. Still, it was clear that the recipient of the anger was only one: himself. Ronaldo was impeccable with his teammates. In the 21st minute, Nuno Mendes missed a pass that wasn’t even intended for him and the captain applauded. The same thing happened in the second half, when the clock started to run. He applauded his teammates in the 74th minute, in the 81st minute he even shouted a visible “Come on, come on” to further applause and in the 90th and 94th minutes he successively asked for the support of the public. This while chants of “Messi, Messi, Messi” could be heard constantly from the Slovenian stands every time something went wrong.

57 touches, five shots and two progressive passes: the numbers

His attitude towards his teammates in the first 90 minutes was that of a captain, but his football performance was very timid in terms of his contribution to the team, an asset so valued by the coach. Ronaldo launched four attacking plays, did not press the defensive line, always came back very late and only scored one goal in a running play, almost in the 90th minute. There were not even any clearances that could have opened spaces for his teammates, as we saw. CR7 does this several times against Turkey. But here, fair play: the Turks do not defend as low as the Slovenians and there Ronaldo was better accompanied, sometimes by Bruno Fernandes, sometimes by Bernardo Silva. Against Slovenia he was a “wanderer” at the front, often alone and always completely closed off.

The difficult conditions, combined with a boring and almost self-flagellating night from Ronaldo, led to these numbers, recorded by the Observer in the stands of Deutsche-Bank Park.

Numbers are numbers and the conclusions depend on who draws them. But it seems that Ronaldo feels more comfortable playing on the wings than in the middle. There may be several justifications, such as the desire to play the ball – which was very noticeable today – or the lack of space in the middle and references to support it. The emphasis is also on the number of progressive passes. CR made one pass forward, but he did not create any scoring opportunities. He did not invent it, but he had one.

Just like Ronaldo in 2012, it was from a direct free kick that CR7 tried almost every shot. One went over, another Oblak defended reflexively but the best chance came in the 90th minute. It was the only time Ronaldo managed to break through the defensive line after a long ball. Taking advantage, there he is, of the Slovenian team’s rise, which tried to charge towards the end of the match. It was yet another demonstration of Cristiano’s current difficulties against teams that defend so low and, mainly, that play alone, without support in attack.

And speaking of emotion, she was here to stay. The next thirty minutes would be some of the most emotional in Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro’s career.

In overtime it was zero, excitement at its maximum

Lots of numbers up there? Don’t worry, there are fewer now. In the first half of extra time, Cristiano Ronaldo touched the ball twice (!): at the kick-off and at the penalty he scored. In the second half of extra time it was more or less the same, having played only one ball. The emotional state did not help. The captain has been very anxious and it is clear that this is shaking his confidence, something that is not common to see. As soon as he missed the penalty in the 105th minute, Ronaldo stood still, staring at the Portugal bench, staring blankly.

Lift your head, captain ????#sporttvportugal #EUROnasporttv #Euro2024 #Portugal #Slovenia pic.twitter.com/MECJe8AWn4

— sports television (@sporttvportugal) July 1, 2024

He was never the same again until the final whistle of the first half, which blew moments later. Then, Cristiano could not bear it and cried. He was consoled, first by his Manchester teammates, Diogo Dalot and Bruno Fernandes, and then by his other Manchester City teammates, Rúben Dias and Bernardo Silva. But Ronaldo was not there. The talk given by Martínez – both at half-time and before the penalties – had a calmer and more reflective captain than usual. The cloud did not disappear until the second opportunity, in the 11th meter, and then during the penalty shoot-out. CR shot past Oblak but this time the Slovenian, guessing the intention, did not reach. Rather than celebrate, Ronaldo turned to the Portuguese fans, right behind the goal, and apologized. The crowd responded with an emotional howl, from those who felt that their idol was not well and did not want that. my fault.

Far away in the centre of the pitch, Ronaldo was not even beginning to cheer much with each save from the hero Diogo Costa, almost as if he still feared that victory would slip away and it was his fault, for not having scored earlier while the game was underway. As soon as Bernardo Silva scored the decisive penalty, the captain came to his senses and it was as if a ton had been lifted off his shoulders. The game is over and you can rest now, we move on. But there are many conclusions to be drawn: Cristiano needs to make peace with himself. He still wants to prove something that the best Portuguese player in history and one of the best in history does not need to prove. He needs help to break down this wall and all the others that are raised when opponents come with lower blocks, like Slovenia. Someone who creates space for him by dragging him or receiving the drag ball from him. And finally, he needs to reflect on whether Ronaldo – alone or not – is the best option in this type of match. Here the warning is clear for Roberto Martínez.

For today, Ronaldo has gained a new lease of life. For him, the European Championship has already begun. 57 touches and endless emotions later.