Cristiano Ronaldo is ready for the Confederations Cup: Portugal’s talisman has a new haircut for the tournament and a pair of specially designed boots, so do not be in any doubt that he is taking it seriously.
Love him or loathe him, Ronaldo elevates every game he plays and every tournament he competes in simply by being there. The personalised touches with the boots, the hairstyle and whatever else he has planned, merely sprinkle a little more stardust in his wake.
Every competition needs a star player, and this Confederations Cup is already benefiting from the reflected glow of Ronaldo’s presence. Alexis Sanchez may yet steal the show with South American champions Chile, or we could see Leroy Sane claim the world stage with Germany, but Ronaldo will be the biggest story because of his insatiable appetite for success and singleminded pursuit of silverware.
Last year’s triumph at Euro 2016, when Portugal defeated France in the final to emerge as European champions for the first time, ended Ronaldo’s lengthy wait for international glory. Ironically, it happened after Fernando Santos’ team overcame Ronaldo’s injury-enforced loss early in the game to win without their best player. Nobody expected Portugal to go all the way, but Ronaldo delivered when it mattered, scoring a crucial goal in the semifinal victory over Wales in Lyon. His presence on the touchline in the final, urging his teammates on with a heavily bandaged knee, highlighted the significance of the success for the Real Madrid forward.
France 2016 may have quenched Ronaldo’s thirst for international success, but Russia gives him the opportunity to claim yet another trophy and further embellish his status as one of the world’s greatest players.
