Cristiano Ronaldo is a name that is sure to evoke emotions in everyone. Even more based on recent news. However, it can be said without a doubt that he is one of the best football players of all time.
Our own generation has grown up with Ronaldo and the previously discussed Lionel Messi’s with the goals. We have watched incredible performances on the pitch. Now we may be able to watch these players for the last time on the World Cup greens.
As a player, Ronaldo has won almost everything. In addition to five Ballon d’Ors, the trophy cabinet includes national championships from several different leagues and numerous Champions League trophies.
The goal and power statistics from season to season speak for themselves. The performances have been freezing throughout the career and an incredible number of records have been broken. Especially keeping the power high throughout the seasons is exceptional.
Ronaldo has come to claim the crown for his career at the World Cup in Qatar – this is likely to be his last chance at a world title. The European championship is already in the trophy cabinet. However, the preparation for the World Cup has been anything but calm.
Arguments in the club team that have continued since the summer and an interview that attracted attention Piers Morgan with finally took Ronaldo and Manchester United in different directions. During the fall, there was a lot of talk about United playing better without Ronaldo. This was also supported by the statistics. During the World Cup, more water to the mill has come from rumors about a possible transfer to the main league of Saudi Arabia.
Here are the backgrounds behind Ronaldo’s benching
However, there has always been a place for Ronaldo in the Portuguese national team. History is successful, and a star like Ronaldo cannot be pushed aside. However, this is what happened when Ronaldo was benched for the quarter-final against Switzerland. Portugal won the match 6–1. Replaced Ronaldo in the starting line-up Goncalo Ramos did a hat trick.
Through statistics, it is difficult to find a reason why Ronaldo is on the field.
We previously went through the concept of goal expectation, that there are already more advanced models than goal expectation, which can measure the impact of each play action on the team’s probability of scoring a goal. The graphic above is one. It has StatsBomb’s on-ball value.
The statistic tells you what value a player’s individual performance has for the team. In particular, we found out through three plays, what kind of value the top attackers have brought to their team in the games and qualifiers.
– In light of this data, Ronaldo has not been a very strong positive player for Portugal in the qualifiers or the World Cup. Above all, that value currently depends on goals. Without them, you won’t get very far below the line, Miika Nuutinen open.
As far as Messi is concerned, we already talked about the fact that a clear trend is still going on in terms of how the biggest offensive game threats are allowed to slip from defensive plays. Teams trust that as a player, the value to the offensive game is so great that it is worth sacrificing the defensive plays so that when the team attacks, these players are as sharp as possible.
Regarding Ronaldo, based on the attached graphic, it can be stated that in the qualifiers and in the current World Cup, his value in attacking plays has not been very high.
– Ronaldo’s defensive actions are rare, but so are these other top strikers. In light of the data, it would seem that all are more or less hideable in the off-ball phase. After all, Ronaldo has something to offer when it comes to defending special situations, Nuutinen states.
Ronaldo’s Player Profile has changed – still an exceptional player
Ronaldo’s Player Profile has changed a lot over the years – a bit like Lionel Messi’s. As a young player at Sporting and on his first visit to Manchester United, Ronaldo was purely a winger who, with his speed and passing ability, created scoring opportunities for others and himself.
During his years at Real Madrid and especially at Juventus, Ronaldo became a purer attacker, and he focused more on his own finishing. The action, especially in the pits, has been exceptional. Ronaldo unbelievably frees himself. The main gameplay alone is worth mentioning as an individual game act. Over time, the transition from wing to center also happened in the national team.
However, in what ways is Ronaldo still exceptional? Let’s try to get to this through the attached videos.
It’s worth turning your eyes to Ronaldo when Portugal is in a place where you can pass into the box. He is still clearly one of the best boxing strikers in the world.
– Considering all the sports, we are talking about a really tough class athlete, for example, total dominance of the airspace at the age of 37 is not an everyday occurrence, Miika Nuutinen states.
– Ronaldo is constantly ready to change situations above the ball and is still skilled at moving at high speed to an unbalanced position in the defense.
– Ronaldo systematically does things in scoring areas that make it difficult to control him. As one example, going to the defender’s dark side in situations where a teammate is looking for a shot. Thanks to that, he wins a lot of loose balls and rebounds.
Everyone who follows football will surely also remember Ronaldo’s free kicks. Positioning the ball, walking, starting position and breathing. All in their own way, a snapshot of one of the best ever. Ronaldo has also been effective in these situations in the past.
Still, Ronaldo mainly takes all of Portugal’s free kicks from areas where scoring is possible. In light of the statistics, how has he succeeded in these?
53 free kicks in the World Cup have resulted in one scored goal. In the light of recent club team statistics, the readings are not much more comforting. Therefore, there is not much consolation for Ronaldo’s playing from the statistics. However, the functions in the box are still world class. Of course, statistics don’t tell everything – what a story it would be if Ronaldo and Messi still met at the World Cup.