Erik ten Hag has criticised Cristiano Ronaldo and claimed that the Portugal international has been in decline since leaving Real Madrid for Juventus in 2018. The comparison with his eternal rival, Lionel Messi, helps to assess the validity of the former Manchester United manager’s claims.
Ten Hag’s comments on Ronaldo
In the summer of 2018, Ronaldo had just led Real Madrid to a third consecutive Champions League title, while Messi was dealing with the disappointment of a disastrous World Cup with Argentina. Both were level on five Ballon d’Or awards, and the race to be named the best player in the world looked evenly balanced.
Speaking to ESPN, Ten Hag said: “Every great team must embrace the great player, but the great player must also make room for the team. That was simply the problem with Ronaldo.” The manager stressed that, while acknowledging Ronaldo’s undeniable talent, in recent years he “simply can no longer deliver”.
Ten Hag’s arrival at Manchester United marked the beginning of the end for Ronaldo, whose relationship with the manager quickly deteriorated. Ten Hag explained that when he arrived at the club, he tried to explain to Ronaldo his role and what he expected of him.
However, according to the manager, Ronaldo “could no longer push himself through the pain and give everything every day to be fit”. This suggests that, without adequate physical condition, opportunities in the Premier League, the Champions League or with the Portugal national team become practically non-existent.
Juventus and the return to Manchester United
Juventus invested heavily in signing Ronaldo in 2018, hoping he would lead the team to the Champions League. Although he scored many goals and won two Scudetti, the team’s European form declined, and their dominance of Italian football came to an end.
The return to Manchester United proved even more disastrous: the team failed to qualify for the Champions League and the relationship with Ten Hag broke down completely, leading Ronaldo to leave European football for Saudi Arabia.
Messi’s path and the numbers since 2018
Meanwhile, Messi’s career has not been free of challenges either. Leaving Barcelona was a sad moment, although he won another Ballon d’Or before that. His time at PSG was marked by a star-studded attack that never fully came together, and the Argentine is currently winding down his career in the MLS.
However, Messi’s international career contrasts with Ronaldo’s, as he led Argentina through a golden era that culminated in winning the World Cup.
The numbers make for an intriguing comparison. Since 2018, Ronaldo has scored eight more goals than Messi, but 80 of those were penalties, compared with 37 for the Argentine. Messi has recorded more than three times as many assists as the Portuguese.
The most striking contrast is in trophies won: Messi has collected 14 titles, including three Ballon d’Or awards and the coveted World Cup, while Ronaldo does not appear to have enjoyed similar success in the final stage of his career.
Discover more from Apito Final
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
