Euro 2016 Is Cristiano Ronaldo’s Best Chance to Strike Gold with Portugal

By
at Internationaled.org

Published: June 6, 2016

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For all of his success—three Champions League titles, three Ballon d'Or awards, marketing deals, even more marketing deals—international triumphs have always eluded Cristiano Ronaldo.

That section of his CV is one he probably likes to gloss over when he's Googling himself—or having someone Google himself for him.

But while you're never too far away from someone who likes to proclaim that only the very best in the world can be defined by their World Cups or continental championships, "perfect" careers are few and far between. Crowning glories are seldom seen.



For Ronaldo, international tournaments have offered tears, tantrums, torment and nothing in the way of tangible triumph.

Like his good friend Wayne Rooney, he made his international breakthrough at Euro 2004, but unlike Rooney, the passionate Portuguese fans backed him up during their home tournament. Defeat in the Lisbon final to Greece was greeted with days of national mourning.

For Ronaldo himself, after being billed as the heir apparent to Luis Figo and the man who would finally allow Portugal to move on from their underachieving "Golden Generation," it was hard to take.

Pictures of the 19-year-old in tears quickly circled and are still seen to this day. It was heartache that will never quite be that raw again, but that seemingly set the tone for an international career that has been defined by failures.

Fast-forward to 2016, and Ronaldo—no longer a stepover-obsessed, spot-marked youth, but rather a man who won't rest until you acknowledge he is The Man—has to be happy with his lot in life. International success might not be the thing he wakes up in a cold sweat longing for.



Having captained Portugal for the first time just a day after he turned 22, his position as the great hope of the national team has long been established. But unlike in previous squa...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - International Football

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