The World Cup Conundrum: Can Cristiano Ronaldo claim GOAT status without the Golden Trophy?

Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal exits the World Cup in tears as he leaves the field at the end of the game Morocco in 2022. (Photo Credit: Imago)

FOOTBALL The World Cup Conundrum: Can Cristiano Ronaldo claim GOAT status without the Golden Trophy?

The World Cup Conundrum: Can Cristiano Ronaldo claim GOAT status without the Golden Trophy?

Izuchukwu Akawor • Izuchukwu Akawor • 09:56 - 07.07.2024

A football fan on social media has questioned Cristiano Ronaldo's GOAT status after Portugal were knocked out of the EURO 2024 without him scoring a goal.

Cristiano Ronaldo - the name alone evokes images of rippling nets, gravity-defying leaps, and a physique chiselled to perfection. 

His legacy? Undeniable. His trophy cabinet? Overflowing. But one piece of silverware is conspicuously absent – the FIFA World Cup. Let's break it down, play by play:

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The Ronaldo Highlight Reel

  • Goals scored: A mountain of them
  • Club trophies: Enough to fill a museum
Cristiano Ronaldo is considered one of the GOATs
Cristiano Ronaldo is widely considered as the GOAT || Imago
  • Individual awards: More than most players dream of and can achieve in a lifetime.

The Missing Piece - World Cup Victories: Zero

Ronaldo has participated in a remarkable 13 major tournaments for Portugal and five of them have been the FIFA World Cup - football’s biggest fiesta. 

Ronaldo with the 2016 Euros trophy
Ronaldo with the 2016 Euros trophy || Image credit: Imago

However, the golden wreath has remained elusive, the 2022 edition hosted by Qatar, the closest he has come to the title - but Morocco stopped him again.

In questioning Ronaldo’s claim to the GOAT, this fan, as is the case for many football purists, believes that the World Cup is the ultimate arena. It's where legends are forged in the fires of national pride. 

Cristiano Ronaldo in tears after missing his spot kick in extra time.
Cristiano Ronaldo in tears after missing his spot kick in extra time. (Photo Credit: EURO 2024/X)

Think of Pelé dancing through defences for Brazil, Diego Maradona's "Hand of God" propelling Argentina, and Ronaldo’s biggest rival, Lionel Messi's recent masterclass for the Albiceleste in Qatar.

The Counterattack

Ronaldo's supporters come out swinging. They argue his GOAT status shouldn't hinge on a single tournament. 

Look at his club career – a highlight reel spanning Manchester United, Real Madrid, and Juventus. 

Cristiano Ronaldo won the Champions League with Real Madrid four times.
Cristiano Ronaldo won the Champions League with Real Madrid four times.

The man's a walking record book, redefining what's possible on the pitch, even with Al Nassr in the Saudi Pro League.

But the World Cup skeptics stand firm. They point to those magical moments that define football history: From Pelé's hat-trick of World Cup wins to Maradona's 1986 solo mission and Messi finally conquering his World Cup Everest in 2022 after several close calls.

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These are the performances that elevate mere mortals to football gods.

Extra Time

Ronaldo's international trophy cabinet isn't bare. He's led Portugal to European Championship glory and Nations League triumph. 

Lionel Messi was the MVP as Argentina won the 2022 World Cup
Lionel Messi was the MVP as Argentina won the 2022 World Cup | Imago

But the World Cup remains his white whale, always just out of reach for the now 39-year-old, who delivered his first barren major tournament in terms of goals at the EURO 2024.

The Final Whistle

As Ronaldo's playing days wind down, the debate rages on. Can a player truly be the GOAT without football's ultimate prize? Or is the World Cup the final frontier that keeps CR7 from reaching the sport's absolute summit?

Cristiano Ronaldo has played his last EURO for Portugal but is expected to be at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Cristiano Ronaldo has played his last EURO for Portugal but is expected to be at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. (Photo Credit: EURO 2024)

One thing's certain – Ronaldo's legacy is sealed in football history. But without that elusive World Cup win, will there always be an asterisk next to his name in the GOAT conversation?

The clock's ticking. The world is watching. Can Ronaldo pull off one last miracle and silence the doubters once and for all in 2026?

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Cristiano Ronaldo Lionel Messi