'Ronaldo hasn't dribbled past anyone in three years' - So what?

The Portuguese forward's character, form and fitness were all questioned before the international break - he responded with four goals in two games

Cristiano Ronaldo is acutely aware that he infuriates as many people as he inspires.

"I know that some stand with their rifles waiting for me to miss a penalty or to fail in a decisive game," the Juventus star told La Repubblica in May.

Shots were certainly fired in the forward's direction after his petulant reaction to being substituted just 10 minutes into the second half of his side's Serie A clash with AC Milan just before the international break.



The Portuguese snubbed coach Maurizio Sarri as he walked straight down the tunnel to the dressing room and left the Allianz Stadium before the game had even finished, prompting a furious backlash from the pundits on Sky Sport Italia.

"You must be a champion also when you are replaced, not only when things are going well," Fabio Capello pointed out.

The former England coach also correctly asserted that Ronaldo has not been at his brilliant best this season – something that both Sarri and the player himself have since attributed to a niggling knee injury.

But then, Capello went further.

"The truth is that Ronaldo hasn’t dribbled past anyone for three years," the Milan legend argued. "I remember when he flew past players and left them on the spot."

Capello's argument is valid but misses the point.

Ronaldo is now 34 and has admitted that he is no longer preoccupied with beating his man with pace or skill.

"Those times when I would be playing and think, 'Now I will do a dribble' – I don't have them anymore," he has admitted.

However, while age has deprived Ronaldo of some of his explosive speed, his thirst for success remains unaffected.





GOAL