Will Ronaldo Cross The Psychological Barrier On Sunday?

Cristiano Ronaldo scored the second goal against Wales to advance to the final of Euro 2016.

Portugal’s qualification to the finals has shocked many football fans amid bad performances at the tournament and the way the team stuttered through the group stage and had to rely on one of the third best placed teams for qualification due to expanded 24-team tournament.

Surprisingly, Cristiano Ronaldo has led the team to this height and has broken records in the process including being the only player to make three semi-finals in the Euro competitions as well as equaling Michel Platini’s record of nine goals at the Euros.

On Wednesday, he silenced his doubters with a header that see him play his second final at the Euros in 12 years.

So many times tagged as a failure with his national team and Portugal failing to win anything at the golden era of Luis Figo and Pauleta, Cristiano Ronaldo has a chance to settle his doubters and prove to them he has been a success at both club and country.

Ronaldo Aiming to Cross That Psychological Barrier

After crying at Portugal’s one goal loss to Greece in 2004, a tournament they hosted, Ronaldo has matured into an adult and became an instrumental force for Portugal at the FIFA World Cup Germany 2006 where Portugal exited the tournament at the semis thanks to a penalty goal by Zinedine Zidane.

Quarter finals and Round of 16 exits followed via Euro 2008 and FIFA World Cup South Africa 2010 respectively which caused Ronaldo to transform to a goal scoring machine.

Ronaldo ended Euro 2012 with penalty shootout elimination against Spain and a group stage exit at the FIFA World Cup Brazil 2014 in a group that also comprised of eventual winners Germany, Ghana and USA.

Cristiano Ronaldo’s strength and pace has diminished with age and he does not know if he can compete at the highest level in the next three to four years and therefore relishes this chance.

Portugal has not won anything in football right from the days of Eusebio but either of the side it faces on Sunday has won both the World Cup and Euro.

Ronaldo has a chance to cement his name forever in the heart of Portuguese football should he win.

Ronaldo’s Portugal faces either France or Germany on Sunday, July 10 at Stade de France.