Is Cristiano Ronaldo finished? How many goals will Man Utd score? And then ? Great Debate
Cristiano Ronaldo may have been hoping that escaping from Manchester United and going on international duty to Portugal would help turn his season around. But the iconic 37-year-old couldn't have been further from the truth as he once again failed to make an impact in the games against the Czech Republic and Spain.
Ronaldo huffed and puffed but couldn't come up with a final product, and is now facing heavy criticism in his homeland after Portugal missed out on a place in the Nations League final - with fingertips pointed in his direction as part of the reason why.
With the legendary figure now likely to return to the bench for the Manchester derby this weekend, questions are now being asked as to whether this once unstoppable force of nature could finally come to an end, with Ronaldo up to now managing only one. strike all season.
So has he finally reached the peak of his powers? How many goals will he manage to score before the end of the campaign? And what does the future hold for one of the most talented players of all time?
The editors ofExpress Sport provide an update on the situation...
Given his struggles for club and country, can we now assume that Ronaldo is finally over as a major force?
Andrew McLean: I'm still reluctant to dismiss Ronaldo given what he's achieved throughout his career, but now it looks like he might finally be nearing the end. His lack of mobility is becoming an increasingly glaring problem and, let's face it, he'll only slow down even more, making it even harder for him to adapt to the modern, fast-paced game.
Ryan Taylor: It's a game of opinions and perhaps what defines a major force, but given that his powers have obviously diminished, I don't think we'll ever see the Ronaldo of old. His game is now incredibly limited and dependent on serve, as well as a team that only deals with his strengths.
However, he certainly didn't finish at the highest level. Just look at Zlatan Ibrahimovic at AC Milan last season. His involvement was limited but he made several outstanding contributions that helped AC Milan win Serie A. CR7 will always play at the highest level until he is at least 40 in my opinion - his game just changed.
Charlie Gordon: Nope. Anyone approaching their 38th birthday is bound to experience some form of decline, but just four months ago Ronaldo was busy capping off a 24-goal season. The guy is still a goalscoring heavyweight, but questions of whether he's getting the best out of those around him make his quest for GOAT status unfavorable.
Charlie Parker-Turner: Certainly not. I just think he's just plain unhappy and needs a release ASAP for everyone's sake. The ball is in Manchester United's court, but it remains to be seen how much longer they will pay a bumper salary for a substitute.
How many more goals will Ronaldo score in his Man Utd career?Andrew McLean: Once he's been hoisted into position, Ronaldo is still capable of doing damage in and around the penalty area, so I expect him to hit double digits again this season. I'm predicting something around the 12 or 13 mark with penalties helping to boost his tally.
Ryan Taylor: I think he'll be just over 150 overall - assuming he leaves at the end of the season. Clearly he won't be playing as regularly as last season, but with cup competitions I would still expect him to hit double figures this term, that's for sure.
Charlie Gordon: Assuming he stays for the remainder of the 2022/23 season, hitting double figures in the Premier League could be seen as a solid damage limitation job given the Portuguese isn't the first name on Erik ten Hag's team sheet and that he had a rocky summer.
Charlie Parker-Turner: Assuming Ten Hag gives the go-ahead for Ronaldo to leave in January, I think he'll score eight more goals - although a lot of them will come in the Europa League. If the whole campaign remains, 15.
Where will he go next? What can you see him doing when he finally hangs up his boots?Andrew McLean: A return to Sporting Lisbon seems the most obvious...
Cristiano Ronaldo may have been hoping that escaping from Manchester United and going on international duty to Portugal would help turn his season around. But the iconic 37-year-old couldn't have been further from the truth as he once again failed to make an impact in the games against the Czech Republic and Spain.
Ronaldo huffed and puffed but couldn't come up with a final product, and is now facing heavy criticism in his homeland after Portugal missed out on a place in the Nations League final - with fingertips pointed in his direction as part of the reason why.
With the legendary figure now likely to return to the bench for the Manchester derby this weekend, questions are now being asked as to whether this once unstoppable force of nature could finally come to an end, with Ronaldo up to now managing only one. strike all season.
So has he finally reached the peak of his powers? How many goals will he manage to score before the end of the campaign? And what does the future hold for one of the most talented players of all time?
The editors ofExpress Sport provide an update on the situation...
Given his struggles for club and country, can we now assume that Ronaldo is finally over as a major force?
Andrew McLean: I'm still reluctant to dismiss Ronaldo given what he's achieved throughout his career, but now it looks like he might finally be nearing the end. His lack of mobility is becoming an increasingly glaring problem and, let's face it, he'll only slow down even more, making it even harder for him to adapt to the modern, fast-paced game.
Ryan Taylor: It's a game of opinions and perhaps what defines a major force, but given that his powers have obviously diminished, I don't think we'll ever see the Ronaldo of old. His game is now incredibly limited and dependent on serve, as well as a team that only deals with his strengths.
However, he certainly didn't finish at the highest level. Just look at Zlatan Ibrahimovic at AC Milan last season. His involvement was limited but he made several outstanding contributions that helped AC Milan win Serie A. CR7 will always play at the highest level until he is at least 40 in my opinion - his game just changed.
Charlie Gordon: Nope. Anyone approaching their 38th birthday is bound to experience some form of decline, but just four months ago Ronaldo was busy capping off a 24-goal season. The guy is still a goalscoring heavyweight, but questions of whether he's getting the best out of those around him make his quest for GOAT status unfavorable.
Charlie Parker-Turner: Certainly not. I just think he's just plain unhappy and needs a release ASAP for everyone's sake. The ball is in Manchester United's court, but it remains to be seen how much longer they will pay a bumper salary for a substitute.
How many more goals will Ronaldo score in his Man Utd career?Andrew McLean: Once he's been hoisted into position, Ronaldo is still capable of doing damage in and around the penalty area, so I expect him to hit double digits again this season. I'm predicting something around the 12 or 13 mark with penalties helping to boost his tally.
Ryan Taylor: I think he'll be just over 150 overall - assuming he leaves at the end of the season. Clearly he won't be playing as regularly as last season, but with cup competitions I would still expect him to hit double figures this term, that's for sure.
Charlie Gordon: Assuming he stays for the remainder of the 2022/23 season, hitting double figures in the Premier League could be seen as a solid damage limitation job given the Portuguese isn't the first name on Erik ten Hag's team sheet and that he had a rocky summer.
Charlie Parker-Turner: Assuming Ten Hag gives the go-ahead for Ronaldo to leave in January, I think he'll score eight more goals - although a lot of them will come in the Europa League. If the whole campaign remains, 15.
Where will he go next? What can you see him doing when he finally hangs up his boots?Andrew McLean: A return to Sporting Lisbon seems the most obvious...
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