Cristiano Ronaldo is undoubtedly one of the greatest footballers of all time. Born in Madeira, Portugal, he began his professional career with Sporting CP in Lisbon before moving to Manchester United in 2003. Since then, he has played for Real Madrid and Juventus, winning numerous domestic and international titles, including five Ballon d’Or awards.
However, there have been controversies involving Ronaldo throughout his career, especially with the Portuguese national team. Here are some of the most notable controversies involving Ronaldo Portugal:
1. Refusing to Wear Medal
In 2016, Portugal won the European Championship for the first time in their history. Ronaldo played a crucial role in the team’s success, scoring three goals and providing three assists in the tournament. However, he was forced off with an injury in the final against France, and Portugal went on to win the game without him.
After the game, Ronaldo was awarded a medal along with his teammates. However, he refused to wear it, instead throwing it away in frustration. Many fans and pundits criticized Ronaldo for his behavior, calling it disrespectful to his teammates and the competition.
2. Tax Evasion Allegations
In 2017, Ronaldo was accused of evading taxes on his image rights while playing for Real Madrid. Spanish authorities alleged that he had hidden income from the tax authorities by using a network of companies in tax havens.
Ronaldo denied the allegations, but he eventually agreed to pay €18.8 million to settle the case. Many fans and pundits criticized Ronaldo for his involvement in the scandal, with some suggesting that it tarnished his reputation as a role model for young people.
3. Sexual Assault Allegations
In 2018, Ronaldo was accused of sexual assault by Kathryn Mayorga, a former model and teacher from Las Vegas. Mayorga alleged that Ronaldo had raped her in a hotel room in 2009, and that she had been paid $375,000 by Ronaldo’s lawyers to sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) preventing her from talking about the incident.
Ronaldo denied the allegations, calling them “fake news”. He also claimed that the encounter with Mayorga was consensual. The case was settled out of court, with Ronaldo agreeing to pay Mayorga $375,000 to drop the lawsuit. However, the controversy surrounding the allegations continued to follow Ronaldo, with many fans and sponsors questioning his character.
4. Walking out of Interview
In 2019, Ronaldo walked out of an interview with Piers Morgan after being shown a video of his late father. Ronaldo became emotional and left the interview, stating that he did not want to talk about his father.
Many fans and pundits criticized Ronaldo for his behavior, calling it unprofessional and disrespectful to the interviewer and the audience. However, others defended Ronaldo, stating that he was entitled to privacy and should not have been forced to discuss a sensitive topic.
In conclusion, Ronaldo is a polarizing figure in football, with many controversies surrounding his career both on and off the pitch. While he remains one of the greatest players of all time, his reputation has been tarnished by his involvement in various scandals. Only time will tell if he will be able to overcome these controversies and maintain his status as a football legend.
