Cristiano Ronaldo seeks immortality with Portugal in Russia

History beckons for Cristiano Ronaldo in Russia as he looks to immortalize his legacy by leading Portugal to their first ever World Cup title.

Adorned with a Portuguese flag around his waist and the crimson red of the selecao on his back, Cristiano Ronaldo stood atop the platform at Stade de France as the physical embodiment of his nation’s greatest sporting achievement. One of only two remaining members from the heartbreak of 2004, he had achieved what no player in Portugal’s history had done before. He had led his nation to European glory and brought home to its citizens a first ever major international title.

Portugal’s triumph in France was as remarkable as it was unexpected. And while Ronaldo’s patriotic attire highlighted the pride in the historic feat, his heavily strapped knee, puffy eyes and tear-stained cheeks were symbolic of the emotional roller-coaster that he, and indeed the nation as a whole, had endured to get there.

The journey can be traced all the way back to 2004 where, in their own back garden, Portugal were defeated in the final of the same competition by an unfancied Greek side. Ronaldo was the youngest member of that squad, only 19 years old at the time, and was named in the team of the tournament. In the coming years, after a string of near misses in Europe and underachievements at the World Cup, the senior figures of Luis Figo, Deco and Pauleta all departed from the national scene. All the while, Ronaldo continued to grow and he was the joint-top goalscorer as Portugal reached the semifinals at Euro 2012, matching their then-best ever finish in the competition.

Two years later he would become the first Portuguese player to score at three separate World Cup tournaments when he netted in a 2-1 win over Ghana. It was the only goal he scored, though, as Portugal crashed out at the group stage on goal difference. A common theme had developed. Neither player nor country could not replicate their European form on the world stage.

Having failed dismally at soccer’s showpiece tournament, Portugal arrived in France for Euro 2016 with only Ronaldo and 36-year old Ricardo Carvalho remaining from the squad of ’04. They were dark horses and their early form in the group stages did nothing to dispel their critics. Three draws from three matches against Hungary, Iceland and Austria, saw Portugal end third in the group without a single victory. It was enough to progress to the knockout stages but only as a result of UEFA’s expansion of the tournament to 24 teams.

Regardless of how they had got there, they were not expected to go much further. In the round of 16 they needed extra-time to beat Croatia after which penalties were required to oust Poland in the quarterfinals. A comfortable win over Wales followed and suddenly, without ever looking like genuine contenders, Portugal found themselves in the final and facing a similar script to the plot of 2004. Except this time around it was they who were the underdogs challenging the favored host nation, and this particular script had another twist.

With a quarter of the match played and the scores level, a visibly distraught Ronaldo was stretchered off the field. His game ended following an innocuous challenge by France’s Dimitri Payet. The match went on without him but his contribution was far from over. Having received treatment from the medical staff, he later emerged from the tunnel and almost immediately assumed a spot next to manager Fernando Santos on the sidelines, shouting orders and waving instructions at his teammates. Neither Santos nor the match officials tried to stop him. He was Cristiano Ronaldo, and he was the coach now.

His animated presence on the sideline was a boost for those who he left behind on the pitch. Their captain and leader had not given up. Nor would they. As the match drew to a close, bit-part player Eder, on as a late substitute, shrugged off his marker and placed a long range effort into the bottom left corner. Manufactured by the unlikeliest source, it was the moment that confirmed the nation’s greatest ever sporting achievement. Ronaldo turned to the crowd with puffy eyes and tears of jubilation on his cheeks. They had done it, he had helped them do it. Portugal’s long wait for silverware was over.

Now they want more.

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Having finally conquered Europe, their focus shifted to the World Cup. Qualification began with a surprise defeat to Switzerland but Portugal recovered to win each of their remaining nine matches. Ronaldo scored 15 of their 32 goals along the way and the ticket to Russia was secured.

While their title will make others stand up and take notice, competing as the reigning champions of Europe, or indeed of any confederation, has never guaranteed World Cup success. Of the eight nations to have won the World Cup trophy, only two have done so on the back of a successful continental campaign, West Germany in 1974 and Spain in 2010. Yet, despite the overwhelming odds against success, Portugal are optimistic, expectant even. It’s an expectation not borne of the quality of the team — for the likes of Brazil, France, Germany and Spain are better on paper — but on the ability of one man, that man: Ronaldo.

A five time Ballon d’Or winner, he’s won almost everything there is to win in soccer and has statues, airports and even a galaxy named in his honor. For more than a decade he has stood as one of two men with an honest claim to being the best player in the world. It’s no coincidence, then, that the nation’s greatest period of success coincides with the career of the former Manchester United star. One title still eludes both player and nation, the World Cup. It’s the single accolade preventing Ronaldo from being immortalized alongside the likes of Pele and Diego Maradona, and preventing Portugal from joining the superpowers of the world game.

Since his debut in the competition in 2006, Ronaldo has only scored three times in 13 World Cup appearances and Portugal have only once progressed beyond the round of 16. At 33, the 2018 edition of the tournament may well be Ronaldo’s last chance to lift the title. To suggest they’re a one-man team would of course be unfair to the other members of the squad, but it’s hard to overstate his importance, both as a goalscorer and a team leader.

While collective grit and defensive solidity were the keys to success at Euro 2016, Ronaldo still had a crucial role to play, scoring two goals against Hungary to book Portugal’s place in the round of 16, where his shot forced the save from which Ricardo Quaresma tapped in the winner. He scored the opening penalty in the shootout against Poland in the quarters, and gave his side the lead with a trademark, towering header in the semifinal against Wales. As the nation’s record appearance holder and goalscorer, he will be the key once more in Russia. Santos has named a strong squad with a balance of youth and experience but if Ronaldo fails to perform it will make little difference whose name is on the team sheet alongside him.

Upon Ronaldo’s shoulders lies the combined weight of an entire nation’s expectations and the sheer desire to immortalize his own legacy. It’s a heavy cross for him to bear but it is one he carries with pride and patriotism. The height of his personal ambitions demand international success with Portugal and only he can deliver it. He’s both lines of the parallel. Portugal are no one’s favorites for the tournament but nothing is impossible with Ronaldo in the team.