Poor old Franck Ribéry. After weeks of exhaustive canvassing for Ballon dOr votes by the Frenchman, Cristiano Ronaldo took 38 second-half minutes in Stockholm to tear Ribérys candidature to shreds, at the same time as Les Bleus were enjoying their best night in years at the Stade de France. Before Tuesday night, some of us had allowed ourselves to be convinced that this years running would be different. Ribéry, the epitome of individual quality combined with supreme work ethic at the hub of team brilliance, seemed to have a real possibility of winning the prize after being the main motor behind Bayern Munichs historic year. Yet if footballs most prestigious individual prize has become simply a celebration of the worlds single most brutal punisher in front of goal, then it is surely game, set and match to Portugals captain. The news that Fifa has extended the previously closed voting period to the end of the month – and will allow those who have already submitted their choices to alter them – cannot be good news for Ribéry either. Ronaldos display was of the type that defines eras, never mind seasons, with his hat-trick drawing him level with Pauleta on Portugals all-time scorers list, with 47. He has already eclipsed the mark made by Eusébio – widely considered in Portugal to be the only player in the countrys history to threaten Ronaldos status as their greatest ever. It was a night of delirium, even if it reminded us of Ronaldos capacity – quite baffling to the Portuguese – of rubbing opponents up the wrong way. He was jeered by the Swedish crowd throughout; every time he received the ball, lost the ball or had an unsuccessful effort on goal. Ronaldo also endured the drone of Messi, Messi from the stands, which began two years ago when Portugals delegation arrived in Sarajevo ahead of the Euro 2012 play-off against Bosnia-Herzegovina. Some local kids even scaled the stadium fence at Zenica to continue the baiting. Ronaldo responded by extending his middle finger. His demeanour in Stockholm was cut from similar defiance, as he simply moulded events to his desire. His display at the Friends Arena carried all the features that his detractors use to beat him – dissatisfied tirades at team-mates, tunnel vision for the goal and seemingly bathing in the opprobrium in the aftermath of each strike. In the event, he was more than entitled to all three. When Portugal rocked, he refused to allow them to tumble. His finishes were exemplary, pitiless and unanswerable. He is, in the words of his team-mate Miguel Veloso, a machine. The scorecard may have read Zlatan 2 Cristiano 3 but the difference was much more appreciable. Ibrahimovic gives hope where there is none. Ronaldo makes the impossible possible. In his current mood, he is perfectly placed to streak away from Lionel Messis challenge for the Ballon dOr, especially with the Argentinian expected to be out through injury until 2014. It is not fanciful to expect Ronaldo to be close to a half- century by the time Barcelonas jewel returns to action. Hes not from this planet, said the Portugal striker Hugo Almeida. Its absolutely incredible that were still discussing whos the best in the world. Tuesday night in Stockholm may have been the last word for now.
Posted on: Mon, 25 Nov 2013 07:49:48 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015