With Portugal, Cristiano Ronaldo has solved the ticket for the semi -finals of the Nations League. In the 5-2 victory after extra time against Denmark, the 40-year-old scored a goal, but is still criticized.
He is the man of records. Cristiano Ronaldo is Portugal’s record scorer, record player and since Sunday evening the first player who has met for Portugal at the age of 40. Nevertheless, the Portuguese sports newspaper “A Bola” asks about the quarter-final second leg of the Portuguese against Denmark: “Why does Ronaldo still play in the national team at the age of 40?”
Weakly kicked penalty
It was mainly the sixth minute of play that brought one or the other to this question in Portugal. Cristiano Ronaldo was found in the penalty area, there was a penalty. Of course, a task that the 40-year-old wanted to solve. Ronaldo started and shot the ball flat into the right corner – but far too unplaced and with far too little force.
Denmark’s keeper Kasper Schmeichel had no problems, was in the right corner in time and could even keep the ball safe. Ronaldo was criticized quite hard by “A Bola”: “The Ronaldo, which cannot be recognized, shoots a scandalous penalty.”
Interim 2-1 lead by Cristiano Ronaldo
After 72 minutes, “CR7” tried to make up for his mistake. A shot from Bruno Fernandes slammed against the right post, Cristiano Ronaldo lurked to the rebound in the penalty area and dusted the 2-1 for Portugal in the meantime. Then whatever followed when Ronaldo scores a goal. The mandatory jubilee leap, including rotation and stretched arms: “Siuuuu” it sounded through the stadium, the Portuguese national hero scored its 136th goal for Portugal.
Answer to Hojlund’s jubilation from the first leg
In the first leg, the “Ronaldo Jubel” had still been on the other side. Rasmus Hojlund scored the 1-0 winning goal for Denmark and cheered with Ronaldo’s “Signature-Move”. For the Portuguese “no problem”At the same time, he hopes that Hojlund see his cheers, said Ronaldo before the second leg. The 40-year-old’s plan opened.
In extension only on the bench
But Ronaldo’s hit was not enough. Since Denmark was able to compensate for (76th minute), the late hit by Trincao to 3: 2 (86th minute) ensured the renewed Portuguese leadership. It then went into the extension, in which another Portuguese appeared: Gonçalo Ramos was substituted for “CR7” after the regular season, prepared it 4: 2 and scored the 5: 2 itself. Portugal coach Roberto Martinez justified the change of Ronaldo with slight muscular complaints.
Negative mood around the Portuguese National team
In general, Martinez has to justify himself that he is still nominated for 40-year-old Ronaldo. Many accuse Portugal national coach that he is blocking the development of young players.
Before the second leg against Denmark, Ronaldo criticized the media for dealing with him and the national team: “I have the feeling that the national team is surrounded by a certain negativity. I saw the press conferences of the past few days, I don’t like that. I don’t like that. I even consider some of the questions you ask a lack of respect.”
End in the National team is not yet foreseeable
Despite the criticism of him, Ronaldo is not yet thinking about quitting. But why does the 40-year-old still play in the national team? If you look at the pure numbers, then confirm why Ronaldo is still playing for Portugal.
In the Nations League, he scored six goals in seven games. In addition, coach Martinez recently underlined in an interview with “Coaches Vibe” how important Ronaldo is for the Portuguese: “His passion to represent Portugal is contagious and motivates the entire team. He is not in the team for what he was once, but for what he continues to be: the top scorer with 17 goals in the 21 games that we have played in the past two years.“For this purpose, the 2026 World Cup could continue to be a goal for Ronaldo.
Ronaldo has never won against Germany
Before the World Cup could seriously become a topic, Portugal is the final four in the Nations League after the victory against Denmark. There it is now against the German national team, against which Ronaldo has never been able to win.
The 40 -year -old has already played against Germany five times – he lost five times. This statistics alone is a drive enough for Ronaldo to continue to open for the Portuguese national team, even if there is still criticism of him in the media.