Former Soccer Star Questions if Cristiano Ronaldo Can Become the ‘New Arnold Schwarzenegger’ Amid Retirement Talk
As Cristiano Ronaldo plays in his sixth and final FIFA World Cup, everyone seems to have an opinion about the soccer superstar.
Criticism came after Portugal’s first match against DR Congo, in which Ronaldo had a poor performance. Many pundits opined that Ronaldo is holding the national team back and should retire. But not everyone shares those views. In fact, a couple of former players think CR7 is far from done.
Speaking on behalf of BOYLE Sports, former Cabo Verde defender Pelé told Showbiz Cheat Sheet that Portugal is not using Ronaldo properly, and people saying he should retire are wrong.
“Is the problem Ronaldo or is it that Portugal doesn’t play to Ronaldo’s strengths? I think it’s more a case of the second one because I noticed that some of the team are always looking to Ronaldo but it can be too much,” Pelé said. “People say Ronaldo is the problem for Portugal and that Ronaldo didn’t do much but his movement was really good. He was making space for other players too.
“Ronaldo’s problem is that some of the Portugal players don’t look at the other options they could play. They are always looking for Ronaldo even when they have better options. I think that’s down to the manager to find the right way because you’ve got an unbelievable squad there that he can challenge to win a World Cup.”
When Ronaldo does finally leave the sport behind, Pelé thinks “he might go to America if he wants to experience something else. You could see that, and he’d certainly light MLS up like no one else can. Maybe it will all come down to what he wants to do once he finally does retire, although I’m not sure about him being the next Arnold Schwarzenegger.”
Ex-Manchester United and England soccer legend Teddy Sheringham also weighed in on all the Ronaldo retirement talk, pointing out, “I was one of the oldest players the Premier League has ever seen, and I think Cristiano Ronaldo can play into his 50s even if it must hurt for him to get out of bed each morning.”
He added, “It wouldn’t surprise me. When you look at his body at 41, he’s still as fit as a fiddle. He’s had his own training team for the past 15 years to keep him in tip-top shape, and as long as he still has the desire, then he will keep going but it’s tough when you get to that age, getting out of bed every day to go and do your training.
“I’m sure he still loves what he’s doing, and he’s playing in a league that’s obviously not as strong as other competitions around the world, but if you’re still scoring goals and people still want you to play, then why not keep going. He has an air of invincibility around him, and he’s got the body as well and the fitness, so I think we’ve got plenty of years of Ronaldo to come yet.”
