London: The moment Cristiano Ronaldo chose not to stand still in the Czech Republic’s penalty area should in time be recalled as a defining one in the international career of one of the two best players in the world.
As his teammate Joao Moutinho got into position to cross the ball, Ronaldo had the defender Gebre Selassie alongside but was thinking, “I shouldn’t be just waiting here”.
A little surge of acceleration took him away from Selassie and into the likely flight path for Moutinho’s cross. It was an intelligent off-the-ball run, the moment of anticipation that would decide the game.
The belting downward header wasn’t bad either. Its significance went beyond ensuring Portugal’s place in the last four of the tournament for it changed the perception of Ronaldo as an international footballer.
Before this tournament his record playing for Portugal at World Cup and Euro finals had been ordinary when not downright disappointing. The Portuguese wondered how he could be devastating for Real Madrid and so often unable to have anything like the same influence when wearing the national shirt.
There are, of course, good reasons why it is difficult for the greatest players to properly express themselves playing for their countries, not least of which can be the quality of their teammates.
Wayne Rooney did well for England at Euro 2004 but had disappointing tournaments at the 2006 and 2010 World Cup finals. In South Africa two years ago he just didn’t seem to have much faith in some of those around him.
Ronaldo’s hitherto underwhelming experiences in the Portuguese shirt were exacerbated by the fact he was born on the island of Madeira, which is part of Portugal but separate from it.
“Madeirenses, as they call themselves, see themselves as different,” says the former footballer Mickey Walsh, who spent eight seasons playing in the Portuguese league, “and if there was any feeling that Cristiano wasn’t playing his best for the national team, it wouldn’t have helped that he came from Madeira. Before this tournament, he wasn’t nearly as loved in Portugal as he should have been.”
To get more from the star player, international team managers sometimes give the star the captaincy in the hope it will draw more from him. Carlos Bilardo did this to stunning effect with Diego Maradona for the 1986 World Cup. Playing the most brilliant football of his career, Maradona dragged an ordinary team over the line in Mexico. One has the same sense about Ronaldo at this tournament.
Three years have passed since Carlos Queiroz made him captain and while there wasn’t much of a return on that investment at the World Cup two years ago, it is now paying off. Ronaldo didn’t perform badly in Portugal’s opening two games at this tournament but because the team lost against Germany and he then missed two good chances in the 3-2 win over Denmark, he was criticised.
Paulo Bento, his current manager, was quick to defend his captain after the Denmark match: “He has played two very good games and I am very certain that not a single player in our squad is dissatisfied with him.”
Ronaldo then did what great players do by delivering an excellent two-goal performance against Holland. This was reminiscent of Maradona against England, Belgium and West Germany at the 1986 World Cup and the point, of course, is that at this level once is never enough.
Ronaldo needed to back up his Dutch performance with a similarly influential contribution against the Czech Republic. In doing that, he suddenly became for Portugal the player that he has long been at club level.
We shouldn’t be surprised because in his ten years as a footballer, uncommon talent and extraordinary athleticism have been underpinned by exemplary professional standards. Ronaldo doesn’t drink alcohol and always turns out properly prepared for work.
In January 2009 he wrote off his Ferrari in an accident on the A538 near Manchester airport but it didn’t stop him training with his Manchester United teammates later that day.
If that reflected his commitment, leaving United reflected more human but equally commendable values. After winning his second Premier League title and the Champions League with United in 2008, he wanted to decamp to Madrid, where he would be closer to home and playing for a club he had long wished to play for. But asked to remain for another season by Sir Alex Ferguson, he agreed and ensured he departed Old Trafford through the grand exit.
Speaking of Ferguson, Ronaldo has not been slow to express his appreciation: “He knows exactly the way I feel about him. If it were humanly possible I would like to have him always by my side. He has always been like a second father to me.” That last season at United, when he knew he would be leaving, he still scored 26 goals.
At Real Madrid he has become the first player in history to score 40 or more goals in two separate seasons and for that club he didn’t need to prove his greatness through these three weeks. But it was important that he showed the desire and discipline to lead his country in the style of a great player. It seemed like the final piece of the jigsaw and he is now putting it in place.