From Lisbon’s old Sporting academy corridors to the modern glare surrounding Portugal, Paulo Sérgio has offered a sharply critical view of Cristiano Ronaldo’s departure from the national-team camp, arguing that a player celebrated across the country must also show responsibility to the group.
Key takeaways
- Paulo Sérgio played alongside Ronaldo in Sporting Lisbon’s youth system and has criticised the Al Nassr forward’s conduct with Portugal.
- He described Ronaldo’s decision to leave the squad as selfish, saying he abandoned his international teammates.
- Sérgio believes Ronaldo had been made aware that he would not feature in two matches.
- He said the match situation could have brought Ronaldo on, but Portugal’s 2-1 lead changed the coach’s priorities.
- Gonçalo Ramos’s third goal removed any remaining need to introduce the veteran forward.
A dispute over Portugal and the collective
Sérgio questioned whether Ronaldo had returned Portugal’s long-standing gratitude during a difficult moment. In his view, the forward has struggled to reconcile his past status with his present role, calling the episode an excessively individualistic response from a player focused on what he has achieved rather than what the team currently requires.
He nevertheless acknowledged the frustration that can come with preparing to enter a match and then remaining on the bench. Sérgio said he experienced that situation repeatedly during his own playing career, warming up without eventually being used.
But he felt Ronaldo should have expected it. Sérgio said he was convinced the coach had spoken to the player in advance and explained that there would be two fixtures in which he would not play.
He pointed to the changing scoreline as the practical reason behind the decision. With the match level at 1-1, Ronaldo was asked to warm up because he could have been needed. Once Portugal moved ahead 2-1, however, the calculation altered. Sérgio believes Ronaldo would likely have entered had Gonçalo Ramos not added a third goal.
Questions around Ronaldo’s inner circle
For Sérgio, the deeper concern lies with the people advising the forward. He referred to Ronaldo’s agents, family and friends, suggesting that those closest to elite players should sometimes challenge them rather than simply reinforce every decision.
He said Ronaldo still has the opportunity to conclude his career with the positive image he deserves, but argued that this episode has not helped that aim.
Sérgio also defended Jorge Jesus’s handling of the situation, saying the coach had acted correctly by putting Portugal’s collective interests ahead of one individual, even one regarded among football’s greatest players. Reflecting on his own career, Sérgio added that he too would have liked to keep playing until the age of 50, but accepted that no player can remain on the pitch forever.
