Ronaldo needs to prove that he’s the real deal

“Ronaldo needs to take responsibility for himself.”

Responsibility shouldn’t be a stranger to Cristiano Ronaldo. As one of the best players in the world and possibly the best it comes with the territory.

But for me, he needs to shoulder more of Portugal’s burden at the World Cup knee injury or not.

That might sound harsh, but with so much at stake, I reckon it’s something he would accept himself.

In Portugal’s first game against Germany, the Real Madrid star was sluggish and offered surprisingly little following Pepe’s first-half sending off.

With his country a man down against a ruthless German side, he needed to turn it on. Instead, he seemed to switch off.

In the days since, stories about his fitness have flown back and forth, with suggestions he will be risking his career if he plays against the United States tonight being made, and then refuted.

It’s clearly a messy situation, but again, it’s one Ronaldo needs to take responsibility for himself. If he’s not fit, he needs to bite the bullet and take himself out of the reckoning.

If, on the other hand, he declares himself ready to play, he needs to give absolutely everything he’s got in tonight’s game, or risk tainting his reputation.

The game’s true greats, guys like Pele and Maradona, never ever gave less than 100%, especially in the World Cup.

That they went on to lift the trophy, in both cases as the driving force behind their respective teams, is testament to their efforts.

By matching their natural talent with sheer effort and application, they set an example their team-mates strove to emulate.

Pele’s Brazil’s and the Argentina of Maradona were good sides. But their superstars dragged them up a level.

Portugal need Ronaldo to do that at this World Cup, because the truth is, that he is far superior to every other player in the squad. You could say the same about Lionel Messi and Neymar.

But the difference is, both of those players and particularly Neymar are doing the business in Brazil. Ronaldo, as yet, is not.

That said, even if he does get his country going, only the most hopelessly optimistic punter would put money on Ronaldo collecting a World Cup winners’ medal.

It’s a real shame that a player of his unbelievable ability could go through a glittering career, sweeping all before him at domestic level, but without a realistic hope of winning the greatest prize in football. But I suppose that’s life.

Messi and Neymar could both conceivably drag their side to World Cup glory. The chances are that Ronaldo never will.

But if he is to join the likes of Johan Cruyff and Eusebio neither of whom won a World Cup on the same pedestal as Pele and Maradona as one of football’s all-time greats, the Portuguese cannot let that affect what he puts into this tournament.

After all, while Ronaldo’s legacy probably won’t be defined by winning a World Cup, it could easily be defined AT the World Cup.

Again, that’s something he has to take responsibility for and I really hope he does.