Portugal's soccer world is in turmoil, with the legendary C Ronaldo announcing that this summer will be the end of his career after the last eight of the Europa League. The World Cup, two years from now, is still in limbo. Against this backdrop, Portugal's captain Martinez's loyal choice of C Ronaldo has allowed the 39-year-old C Ronaldo to continue to wear the gown.
However, the numbers reveal a fact that cannot be ignored: as he gets older, Cron's performance seems to be slipping. He's played in five games this year and has failed to score. The touch figures are also worrying: an average of just 28 touches in 90 minutes, down from 39 two years ago. Looking back at the last UEFA Nations Cup (2021), Cron averaged 47 touches in 90 minutes and scored a staggering number of goals. And compared to his peak in 2006 (a whopping 66 touches), Cron's involvement has plummeted by more than half.
Looking ahead to the 2026 North American World Front, Cron will be 41 years old. Even Sir Alex Ferguson, the former Manchester United coach, was surprised by Cron's persistence: I had thought that soccer would become faster and more intense, and that the space for strikers to survive would become narrower and narrower. Compared to defenders, it is more difficult for strikers to maintain a high level of performance in their twilight years.
