I’ve seen Matthews, Finney, Maradona, Pele, Cruyff and, yes, Messi. But Ronaldo is eclipsing them all
Even by Cristiano Ronaldo’s standards it was so extraordinary it seemed impossible even for the master.
His free- kick, the last of his hat-trick against Spain, was nothing less than miraculous.
Ronaldo struck it with tremendous power, not unusual. It swerved round the wall, again not unusual — but then, at the very last second, he got it to dip under the bar. It was the dip from such pace that makes his speciality so special.
To produce that under the most intense pressure is something else. It was no fluke, he knew exactly what he wanted the ball to do.
I have witnessed magnificent free-kicks from Ronaldo over the years but not one I can remember so technically outstanding. Power, swerve, dip.
It was perfection at the end of an enthralling match on Friday night that made me long for more.
This is about Ronaldo inspiring the Portuguese onwards and upwards towards Moscow and the final. But doubtless he will see it also as the opportunity he wants to establish himself as the best player of all time. His only realistic challenger for the title is Lionel Messi.
Poor Messi failed to find anything like top gear in Argentina’s first game against Iceland, compounded by his penalty miss that we can put down to complacency brought on by frustration. It wasn’t the Messi we know and drool over.
Ronaldo is, for the moment, well in front in that personal race to top the rankings.
When you consider his age, 33, and what he has already achieved it tells you everything about the man that he continues to pursue the dream not just for himself but for his country.
They talk about his ego, they refer to him as a poser. When he winks he is saying: ‘I can do everything’. So what?
He has and continues to perfect a style that is exquisite. If he has adapted his game, as he has, to contend with his age then it has not diminished it one little bit, as he proved against Spain.
He has exploited all the advantages available to him scientifically, medically, in training. Combine those with his commitment and his ambition and Ronaldo could go on and on.
HIS
game is flawless. He is a brilliantly talented individual who works for the team. What can he not do? He runs and runs and runs. He can shoot, cross the ball, head the ball and strike free-kicks. He scores goals consistently and of the highest order and, like Messi, he is very rarely in trouble on the field. His temperament now seems under control. He could be petulant, extremely so, but he has learned the opposition is looking for him and generally lets them get on with it. He is their problem. They dive in and he is gone.
There have been outstanding players gracing our beautiful game over the decades like Diego Maradona and Johan Cruyff and, of course, Pele. But, for me, Ronaldo, who covers everything you want from one person but do not think possible, can eclipse them. They were the finest of their era, while he is vying with Messi to be the best of all time.
If I can explain it this way, it was recognised that in Stanley Matthews and Tom Finney england had the world’s top footballers. Sir Stanley would glide past the left back, move on and cross the ball.
He couldn’t do anything else. It wasn’t his fault. He did what he had to do with remarkable style. He was considered incomparable but that was then, the best of his era.
But neither he nor Finney could do what Ronaldo has done in a career that spans success at Manchester United and Real Madrid and with Portugal.
Then there is Maradona. He scored sublime goals, forgetting the ‘Hand of God’. He was the top man of his era, as Paul Gascoigne was for us. neither were good losers, hardly a fault but they could do things others could not.
They certainly couldn’t do what Ronaldo does. They loved their team and the team loved them. That was their strength.Our own Gary Lineker scored goals, and how. He didn’t collect cards from referees but he had a few flaws.
There are players whose talent we can enjoy over the next few weeks: neymar, Gabriel Jesus, Kevin De Bruyne and Mo Salah are four to watch.
We have our own share of potentially high World Cup achievers, attackers, such as captain Harry Kane, Raheem Sterling and Dele Alli, who are all capable of impacting these finals. I never expected what I saw from that opening match between Spain and Portugal.
I was intrigued by the possibilities but generally the first group matches are stifled by caution, players feeling their way into the competition. I was thrilled by the standard of performance and the commitment from both sides, plus Ronaldo’s five-star contribution.
If this is the standard for the finals then I cannot wait to see the tournament unfold. If it continues the way it has started it will be our privilege to look and admire.