Was Cristiano Ronaldo Always The Problem?

Was Cristiano Ronaldo always the problem? Two teams decided they'd be better off without him. Both of them are now worse. Portugal lost 4-1 at home to Denmark in their first game since he retired from international football, and the crowd sang his name. Manchester United are 18th in the Premier League, on their eighth permanent manager since Sir Alex Ferguson. Three years ago, Ronaldo told Piers Morgan that nothing at United had changed since Ferguson left, and his contract was ripped up within a week. He was called arrogant, disloyal, bigger than the club. But with three years of hindsight, a lot of what he said looks right. We go back through both endings properly: the Euro 2016 final and the touchline in Paris, his return to Old Trafford, the case against him, the Piers Morgan interview, Qatar 2022, the Nations League, the 2026 World Cup and his exit this autumn. Was he finished as a player? Was his ego too big? Or was he just the most famous person in two rooms that were already on fire? 🔔 Subscribe for more long-form football essays: https://www.youtube.com/@footnotetalk?sub_confirmation=1 CHAPTERS 0:00 Two teams that got rid of Ronaldo 0:59 Was Ronaldo always the problem? 1:44 Paris, 2016: the knee 2:32 Portugal win it without him 2:48 Leader or ego? 4:01 Manchester, August 2021 4:58 24 goals at 36 5:59 United finish sixth 6:40 The case against Ronaldo 7:45 The dressing room 8:22 Ten Hag and the rebuild 9:32 The Tottenham walk-off 10:02 The Piers Morgan interview 10:53 United get better without him 11:48 Three years later 12:56 Was Ronaldo right? 14:15 How bad would United have been without him? 15:13 Portugal 15:45 Qatar 2022 16:20 Dropped for Switzerland 17:12 Martínez, Euro 2024 and the Nations League 18:06 The 2026 World Cup 18:47 This autumn: Jorge Jesus 19:29 The number seven shirt 19:53 Portugal 1-4 Denmark 20:25 So, was he the problem? 20:35 Was he finished? 21:40 Was his ego too big? 22:21 Was he treated unfairly? 23:08 The verdict 23:37 Back to the touchline in Paris 24:14 Your turn So, was Ronaldo the problem at United and with Portugal, or was he just the easiest person to blame? Let us know in the comments. Watch next: Why Are Man United So Bad? [MAN UNITED VIDEO LINK] ABOUT FOOTNOTE. ¹ long-form football essays, told properly. The bits of football that usually get left at the bottom of the page: a question worth asking, the data to back it up, and a verdict that's fair to both sides. Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@footnotetalk?sub_confirmation=1 All footage is used for commentary, criticism and analysis under fair use. #Ronaldo #CristianoRonaldo #ManUnited