“I don’t care, it’s meaningless” - Ex-Chelsea midfielder on Cristiano Ronaldo scoring goals for Portugal in Nations League
Former Chelsea midfielder Craig Burley believes Cristiano Ronaldo's performances for Portugal in the UEFA Nations League are meaningless. The 39-year-old superstar found the back of the net once each against Croatia and Scotland, respectively, to take his total career goals tally to 901.
Burley played 338 games for club and country during his career, scoring 44 goals in total and providing 10 assists. He retired in 2004 after a stint at Walsall and has gone on to work as a pundit with ESPN.
Speaking on ESPN FC about the Portuguese icon's goals, the former Scotland international said:
“Yes, he’ll get you goals. It’s the Nations League, I don’t care how many games Portugal win in the Nations League or Roberto Martinez makes substitutions and they win. I don’t care, it’s meaningless."
Burley continued, saying:
“We talked about Ronaldo [after the last game against Croatia]. We talked about everything he did throughout his career and then we did a big picture analysis. He’s going to be nearly 41 and half when Portugal play in the next World Cup to be held in the United States. Tell me another team that’s going to play in the World Cup with somebody leading the line who’s even going to be 35. You’re going to struggle [if you do that]."
The former midfielder who represented Chelsea 130 times concluded his statement about Cristiano Ronaldo, adding:
“And that’s off the back of a poor Euros. He wasn’t playing against the likes of Scotland [at Euro 2024], he was playing against elite level teams and he struggled. I’m not taking anything away from the man himself, he has been utterly brilliant in his career. But for Roberto Martinez and Portugal there’s a bigger picture [they must look at]. You can’t go to the World Cup with someone who is 41 and a half and leading your line.”
Cristiano Ronaldo will next face Al-Ahli with Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League where he will hope to add to his 901 career goals.
Former Chelsea defender had once said that the club made a mistake not signing Cristiano Ronaldo
Back in March, former Chelsea defender William Gallas had claimed the Blues made a mistake by not signing Cristiano Ronaldo after he was released from Manchester United. The Portuguese icon has continued to perform at a high level, scoring 62 times and providing 17 assists in 68 appearances for Al-Nassr since his move to Saudi Arabia.
Speaking to Genting Casino (via Goal), the Frenchman said:
“Chelsea made a mistake by not signing Cristiano Ronaldo. He was available to sign and Chelsea would have been a good club for him. Everyone knows how important Ronaldo can be in the dressing room, he brings a winning mentality and it could have benefited the squad. It was a mistake by Chelsea.”
Gallas, now retired, played 225 times for the Blues, scoring 14 times and providing five assists. He won two Premier League titles, one League Cup, and a Community Shield with the west London Club.