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Is 2022 the worst year of Cristiano Ronaldo’s immense career? The question deserves to be asked as CR7 experienced huge disappointments and was at the heart of controversy over the second half of the year (from August to December). And yet the Portuguese’s first part of the year had gone more or less well.
Convincing first months before the descent into hell
Cristiano Ronaldo’s start to 2022 with Manchester United is off to a good start. The only problem is that the Red Devils are not playing well and are showing enormous nervousness in defense. The Mancunian club is quickly left behind and out of the race to qualify for the Champions League at the end of the season. Ralf Rangnick, the interim coach of Manchester United has not managed to make his team play well, which has a series of ups and downs. Despite this, Cr7 continues to score. On March 12, he scored an incredible hat-trick once morest Tottenham, allowing the Portuguese to become the top scorer in the history of football by beating Bican (805 goals in all competitions). On April 16, the five-time Golden Ball scored his 50th hat-trick of his career, and at the same time became the first player in history to reach this bar. Cristiano Ronaldo will end the Premier League season in third place in the scoring charts (18 goals in 30 games), just behind Mohamed Salah and Son Heung-Min (23 goals for both men). Manchester United finished 6th in the English championship, 13 points behind Tottenham, fourth and last qualified for the Champions League. This is when Cristiano Ronaldo’s career will completely change.
The Portuguese wants to compete in the Champions League and therefore asks to leave the club. After ditching the resumption of training with the Red Devils in early July, the Portuguese claims he is not here due to family issues. He will return to Manchester on July 26. Failing to have reached an agreement with a club competing in the Champions League (Bayern Munich, Atlético Madrid and Sporting were the hottest tracks), CR7 is forced to stay with the Red Devils. The new coach Erik ten Hag makes no gift to the Portuguese following his various setbacks. The five-time Golden Ball starts almost no game (only 5 tenures in 16 Premier League games), and the situation is becoming increasingly burdensome between Cristiano Ronaldo and the Mancunian leaders. At the beginning of November, the former Juventus player gave an interview to Piers Morgan, where he explained that he felt betrayed by Manchester United. A shock interview that will have the effect of a bomb. On November 22, the Red Devils announce the termination of CR7’s contract. A sad end in Manchester for the legend of the club.
A frustrating last World Cup for CR7!
The top scorer in the history of the Portuguese selection is regarding to play his fifth and last World Cup at 37 years old. The World Cup started in the best possible way for Cristiano Ronaldo who scored from the penalty spot in the first pool match once morest Ghana (success 3-2). He also becomes the first player in history to score at least one goal in five different World Cups. New holder once morest Uruguay and South Korea, CR7 will not find the net, but Portugal qualifies without problem for the knockout stages.
But once morest all odds, Fernando Santos decides to leave the Portuguese star on the bench once morest Switzerland. The Seleção atomizes the Nati (6-1). Gonçalo Ramos holder in place of Cristiano Ronaldo scored a magnificent hat-trick. It is therefore logical that the fivefold Golden Ball finds itself once more on the bench during the quarter-final once morest Morocco. CR7 comes into play in the 50th minute, but cannot prevent the defeat of his team. Portugal is therefore beaten by the Atlas Lions (1-0), and the legend of Real Madrid returns to the locker room in tears. Undoubtedly one of the strong images of this World Cup. It is also not said that the center forward replays in selection. This defeat sounds like an end clap for Cristiano Ronaldo.
2023, first professional year outside Europe for CR7!
On December 30, Al-Nassr officially announces the signing of Cristiano Ronaldo for two seasons. The Portuguese signs the biggest contract in the history of football since he will receive nearly 200 million euros per season (including commercial agreements). He also becomes at the same time the highest paid sportsman in the world. CR7 should soon play its first match with the Saudi club (possibly January 5 once morest Al Taee). Now trained by Rudy Garcia, the five-time Golden Ball might however cross paths with a certain Leo Messi, his eternal rival. Indeed, a friendly match between Al-Nassr and PSG should take place on January 19. After his two seasons in Saudi Arabia, Cristiano Ronaldo will be almost 40 years old, hard to imagine him returning to Europe for a final challenge. Nevertheless, nothing remains impossible with the Portuguese legend…
to summarize
Is 2022 the worst year of Cristiano Ronaldo’s immense career? The question has the merit of being asked as CR7 has experienced enormous disappointments and has been at the heart of controversy over the second half of the year Relive the eventful year of the Portuguese star with in particular his aborted transfer from Manchester United, his termination of contract with the Red Devils, the failure in the quarter-finals of the World Cup once morest Morocco, and his signing in the Saudi club of Al-Nassr.
