🇵🇹 Ronaldo Has Become a Parody of Himself 📖 Narcissism: an excessive preoccupation with oneself, accompanied by a craving for admiration and an inflated sense of one's own importance. I’m not diagnosing Cristiano Ronaldo. I’m describing behaviour. And his extraordinary 1,740 word tantrum provides quite the case study. This entire saga began because a 41 year old footballer was told he might play 30 minutes for Portugal and then didn't. Jorge Jesus changed his mind during a match. Ronaldo considered this betrayal worthy of a manifesto. Then comes the truly extraordinary part. Ronaldo reveals that a document was prepared detailing what Jesus should say publicly. Among the proposed lines was an apology for warming up someone of the "stature of Pele or Diego Maradona" without bringing him on. Imagine the staggering vanity required to approve those words about yourself and then publish them believing they strengthen your case. Portugal created this monster. For years they indulged Ronaldo, massaged the ego and hoped Father Time might eventually introduce the realism nobody around him possessed the courage to provide. They waited too long. Last week I asked whether anybody in Portuguese football had the balls to tell Ronaldo his time was up. Jorge Jesus finally did. Ronaldo responded like a pampered child being told no. He left the camp, blamed others and has now produced nearly 2,000 words explaining why Cristiano Ronaldo remains the victim in the continuing tragedy of Cristiano Ronaldo. He even wants "one or more farewell matches". Naturally. Apparently even his goodbye requires a tour. An extraordinary footballer has become a deeply embarrassing spectacle. Father Time won. Ronaldo simply cannot accept the result. ✍️ P.S. Last time I dared question Ronaldo, the cult descended. So, for clarity, as a footballer and athlete he was extraordinary, one of the greatest we've ever seen. I don’t need his goal statistics from the Saudi league waved at me as proof that he somehow remains an elite footballer. My eyes have told me for years that he’s washed at the highest level. His devoted following can continue to delude themselves if they wish. His reputation cannot outrun reality forever.