The Media Slander Doesn't Take Away His Greatness.

image source

The media has continually proven that they're only your friend when the going is good. One bad stumble, you'd see their real side.

Honestly, I wonder where all these media slander for Cristiano Ronaldo started and why. I remember Lionel Messi opening up about how the Barcelona hierarchy deceived him in an interview just before his move to Paris Saint German and hell was not let loose. I believe this slander is being championed by the England media (I may be wrong), especially after his expose with Piers Morgan.

As much as I do not agree with some of Ronaldo's actions like when he refused to come on against Tottenham and walking down the tunnel in another match, we easily forget that he's human like everyone and would make mistakes. What I don't appreciate is the way the media goes around calling "his dog" a bad name just to hang it.

I remember just before the world Cup commenced, how they tried to start a propaganda of how his teammates had fallen out with him in the national team. Remember the viral video of Bruno Fernandes giving him a "cold shoulder" when they arrived camp? They cut the video to suit their own narrative. Thank God Fernandes came out to clear the air.

As if that was not enough, again, they cut a video clip of him try to play with Joao Cancelo on the training pitch, where the Manchester City defender shrugged him off. Alas, the full video showed that Cancelo was rashly tackled by another teammate, which he obviously didn't like and Ronaldo tried to ease the mood, but they cut it to fit their own narrative.

It's almost like everything he does now is being picked on, forgetting how he has stayed at top level for almost two decades. It's shameful. He isn't perfect and has a life outside the pitch, I believe the media should learn to respect that.

As much as I was very happy with Morocco's victory over Portugal, I was saddened to watch clips of how their fans were mocking him after the game as if he was the only one on the Portugal team, to the extent a little girl was saying, "where is Ronaldo? He is sitting his car over there, crying". C'mon, there should be boundaries to these things. Football is an enjoyable game and we shouldn't ruin it with overboard banter; banter without control.

Be glad you've been privileged to see a player like Ronaldo play because you never may see his kind for decades, maybe centuries. His rivalry with Messi, for all you care, is mostly fuelled by the media. I'm sure both players share mutual respect, hence, I hate to go into the debate of who's better or greater. Both are the greatest footballers the game has even witnessed and it'd be hard, I mean, difficult, herculean, rare to create another such healthy rivalry. Mbappe and Haaland? I doubt.

He may not have bowed out of international football like he wanted or dreamt, his legacy is still unshaken. The charity he does, the lives he's helped and the records he's broken, all will remain against his name.

No matter the slander, CR7 will forever be a great of the game.