As one of the greatest football players of all time, Cristiano Ronaldo has continuously proven his worth in the football pitch. His skills and talents in the game are evident, which has earned him numerous accolades, including five Ballon d’Or awards. However, like any other player, Ronaldo has his weaknesses that he struggles with, which have been prominent throughout his career. In this article, we shall delve into the main weaknesses Cristiano Ronaldo has as a footballer.
1. Lack of Vision and Creativity
One of Ronaldo’s main weaknesses is his inability to see beyond his goals and assists. He is known for making quick and effective slashes towards the goal, but this comes at the expense of creativity. Unlike his closest competitor Lionel Messi, Ronaldo lacks the intuition for intricate passes and the ability to set up teammates for scoring opportunities. His tunnel vision towards the goal often makes him predictable and easy to contain by opposing defenses. He has often highlighted his lack of creativity with the ball, which is a significant drawback of his game.
2. Defensive attributes
In football, the term defense wins championships resonates with many football clubs that have won prestigious titles from numerous leagues. However, when it comes to Ronaldo, he lacks this skill in his arsenal. He is notorious for his lack of willingness to track back, help defend, and recover the ball, making him a liability to his team defensively. Ronaldo has stated that he’s not the best defender, but when he is needed to defend he can contribute to the effort. But if you compare him to other strikers, he lacks the ability to defend or intercept passes in the midfield
3. Inconsistency in the game
Another significant weakness of Ronaldo is inconsistency. Ronaldo is one of the most exceptional players in the world, yet he tends to be inconsistent throughout the season. His form could be attributed to fatigue, injuries, or the lack of service from his teammates, but his inability to perform at the highest level when needed has hindered his progress and that of the clubs he has played for. Ronaldo has been known to disappear in big games that matter for his team, and he has struggled with delivering when it counts the most.
4. Diving
Ronaldo is guilty of diving and exaggerating contact in football, which is considered a serious offense. His tendency to showboat and pretend to be fouled has earned him a reputation among fellow players, analysts, and fans alike. The art of diving has been a contentious issue in world football, and Ronaldo’s habit of diving has not gone unnoticed.
5. Age
Although Ronaldo’s age is not his fault or something he can change, it has become a weakness of his game in recent years. Ronaldo is no longer in his prime, and he is slowly beginning to decline physically. His game has become less quick, less dynamic, and less agile, which has affected his performance on the pitch. Although he continues to be a threat in the box with his finishing, his loss of pace and agility make him a less effective attacker than what he used to be.
In conclusion, Ronaldo may be one of the best footballers in recent history, but he has his weaknesses. His tunnel vision on the goal, lack of creativity in passes and defending, inconsistency in the game, diving, and age are all factors that have hindered his progress as a player. However, Ronaldo is continually working on improving himself, and he remains a formidable opponent on the football pitch.
