He may have several league titles, Champions League medals and an underwear model; but there is one frontier that he has yet conquered. And it happens to be one that he cares about most deeply. Glory for his country would trump any award that he's received. Whether he wants to say that publicly or not.
Four years ago, Cristiano had the chance to knock out Spain and send Portugal into a final in which they could have won. It wasn't the greatest Portuguese team, but they were hard as nails and effective. There were the tools there to go all the way and win the cup.
Alas, Cristiano decided to send the ball into the next galaxy on that counter.
Now with four years later, Cristiano has yet another chance with Portugal. He's not getting any younger and he knows deep down that he wants to win something for his country. With being touted as the "best in the world", you need at least one of these two major international trophies to validate that.
To retire having never won something with Portugal lodges an asterisk next to all those individual awards.
But the most painful for Cristiano had to have been twelve years ago when Portgual were the hosts. It was his first major tournament and was where he showed the world his skills.
Portugal came so close but were ultimately beaten by a better coached and more focused Greece. Cristiano's tears showed his pain, and as the saying goes:
"Smiles fade away but the scars remain forever."
In what I believe is a Euros that anyone can nab, Portugal are in a good position to win it. Veterans like Moutinho, Bruno Alves, Pepe along with exciting young bucks that include William Carvalho and Renato Sanches, and you pop Mister goalscorer himself in there and you have a team who can win this trophy. There isn't a mammoth that they can't beat. They just need to get their tactics right, be able to hang in there in those tight games and score when need be, as nobody likes to lose on penalties.
If Cristiano does win it, and scores the G's that take them there, I'll have to put my venom aside and tip my hat to plucked-eyebrowed one. I doubt it will happen, but in football I know not to make anything an absolute certainty....apart from Borriello ever being relevant again. HH
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