That is the definitive way to assess the quality of any player
More seriously, let's look at how Portugal won that tournament.
They didn't win any of their group games. They drew with Iceland 1-1, drew with Austria 0-0 and with Hungary 3-3.
Ronaldo scored two goals in the last of those.
Then in the knock outs they beat Croatia in extra time.
Then they beat Poland on penalties (fun fact, I was in Warsaw that night, go there a lot on business, and watched the end of it in a bar there).
Then they beat Wales 2-0, Ronaldo scored the first - so that was the semi-final and the first game they actually won in normal time. And it was against Wales who, all disrespect due, are no world beaters.
They won the final 1-0 against France. Arguably the first decent side they played. That was in extra time too and Ronaldo went off after 25 minutes.
So spare me this notion that Ronaldo heorically dragged a mediocre Portugal to glory against the world's best. They pub-teamed their way to the title against some poor sides, most of which they either didn't beat or snuck past in ET or on pens. The only decent team they beat (also in extra time) Ronaldo wasn't even on the pitch for most of it.
Originally Posted by Letters
That is the definitive way to assess the quality of any playerman, shut up. Messi hasn't won a thing at International level. Nothing. Regardless of whether they pubbed it, they won! It's that simple. Name another Portuguese attacking player that's close to Ronaldo's level? I'll wait.
Reply With Quote