Cristiano Ronaldo

Written by Nuno Travassos, Catarina Pereira and Luís Mateus for A Bola:

Another Euros and another major tournament for Cristiano Ronaldo. His transfer to Al-Nassr meant he has regained his smile in the national team, repaying the trust of Roberto Martínez with 10 goals in Euro 2024 qualifying. “It's a different chapter for all of us,” he said. “The energies are good, positive – that is the most important thing. There is fresh air now.” Things had looked bleak as the 2022 World Cup campaign spiralled out of control. Having fallen out with Erik ten Hag at Manchester United, Portugal’s captain arrived in Qatar in poor physical condition and was substituted in the three group-stage games. In the last one he reacted badly and was caught on camera saying to the coach: "You’re in a f***ing hurry to get me out." He lost his starting spot in the knockout stage and when Morocco knocked Portugal out in the quarter-finals he immediately left for the dressing room crying profusely. The following day he left a message on social media saying that winning the World Cup was “the biggest and most ambitious dream of his career”, and expressed the hope that time would be “a good advisor”. It looked like Ronaldo, then aged 37, might say goodbye to the national team but a few days later Fernando Santos's departure was announced and everything changed.