Has Cristiano Ronaldo been disrespected in his rivalry with Lionel Messi?

There’s not often a lot of a cause to really feel sorry for Cristiano Ronaldo. Guys who make $220 million a 12 months and strut and swagger and flex their eight-pack do not sometimes elicit that form of sympathetic vibe.

But because the Portuguese famous person prepares for what we assume can be his remaining worldwide match — though we have thought, believed and written that earlier than — he’s maybe extra deserving of sympathy than at any time earlier than.

With the European Championships looming (solely on FOX and FS1, starting June 14), Ronaldo is in an odd and unprecedented spot, now the B-side amongst soccer’s final alphas, caught beneath the treadwheels of the Lionel Messi phenomenon.

The place there was as soon as a heated dialogue about their respective greatness, Messi’s World Cup victory in 2022 cemented him as this technology’s undisputed pound-for-pound champion, regardless of Ronaldo heavyweight checklist of achievements.

What’s extra, the Argentinean has additionally overwhelmingly triumphed within the two-man reputation contest. Folks root for Messi. Typically as not, individuals root for Ronaldo to lose.

Is that truthful? Come on, since when was soccer fandom about what was truthful?

“I do assume Cristiano has been disrespected,” Ronaldo’s former Manchester United teammate, Polish goalkeeper Tomasz Kuszczak instructed OLBG. “There may be all this speak relating to who is best between him and Messi.

“I had the prospect to coach with him and play with him for a few years. He has confirmed the whole lot in (soccer), wherever he has been. He has at all times been efficient and proven he could be a chief. He deserves 100-percent respect.”

No query about it, Ronaldo seeks the highlight, relishes the drama, and thrives on being on the middle of all of it. Messi, way more quiet, reserved and personal off the sphere, brings a distinct vitality that leaves him much less uncovered to criticism.

Lionel Messi vs. Cristiano Ronaldo?

Even their dueling late-career adventures seem like heading on totally different tracks. Messi started his Inter Miami journey in spectacular vogue, with a surprising last-second free kick in his debut, then received the Leagues Cup. Now he has Inter on the high of the MLS standings whereas topping the assists chart.

Ronaldo, whose shock transfer to Saudi Arabia sparked a mass inflow of expertise into that nation’s Professional League, has discovered issues harder. His loaded Al-Nassr squad will end a distant second to league champion Al-Hilal when the season wraps on the finish of this month.

Regardless, it’s time, proper now, and upfront of Portugal’s marketing campaign on the Euros in Germany this summer time, to chop Ronaldo some slack.

The mere proven fact that the 39-year-old can be in motion on the Euros is an eye-opener, particularly when framed towards the tortured 2022 World Cup that appeared to have ended his nationwide group profession.

That he can be heading into the occasion nonetheless in a cherished place as his nation’s go-to contributor and the first cause behind Portugal’s spectacular qualifying marketing campaign? That deserves to be acknowledged for exactly what it’s — a contemporary soccer miracle.

“Nobody would have begrudged (Portugal head coach) Roberto Martinez coming in and saying, ‘that is the time, that is the second for (Ronaldo) to go,” FOX soccer analyst and former United States nationwide group defender Alexi Lalas instructed me through phone.

“As a substitute, he has achieved the other and ingratiated him and rejuvenated him on the worldwide stage. I nonetheless assume Ronaldo has one thing to provide. This model of Portugal is dynamic, thrilling and energetic, and for those who get Ronaldo to purchase into the actual fact it isn’t all about him, that is enormous.”

Portugal was a sensation in the course of the qualification marketing campaign, as the one nation to achieve an ideal document — 10 video games, 10 wins, 10 targets for Ronaldo.

It’ll start its Euros schedule by taking over the Czech Republic in Group F on June 18, earlier than assembly Turkey and shock qualifier Georgia.

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Martinez squashed any considerations about Ronaldo taking part in his soccer within the Saudi league as a substitute of certainly one of Europe’s high divisions when he met with reporters after naming his squad this week.

“As for Cristiano Ronaldo, I believe it’s higher to speak about statistics,” Martinez mentioned. “A participant who scores 42 targets in 41 video games for his membership reveals continuity, a bodily capability to at all times be match, and high quality in entrance of aim that we like and want.”

No matter disrespect Ronaldo is perhaps feeling from exterior elements, there’s none of it inside the Portugal camp, which he’ll signify for an eleventh time in a serious match, and a sixth time within the Euros.

Martin Rogers is a columnist for FOX Sports activities. Comply with him on Twitter @MRogersFOX and subscribe to the each day publication.