WHERE DID IT ALL GO RON? - Why Ronaldo's Portugal career looks set to end in chaos after star's latest drama

Cristiano Ronaldo will rightly go down as one of the very best footballers of all time.

979 career goals. Five Ballon d’Ors. Eight league titles. Five Champions League crowns. They are numbers and achievements that basically every player around the world would envy. Except maybe one: Ronaldo’s long-term rival Lionel Messi.

But that’s seemingly not enough for the Portuguese veteran, who has thrown yet another almighty strop to leave his reputation in tatters as he approaches the final throes of his glittering career.

Of course, Ronaldo has been embroiled in his fair share of dramas in the past. But while he was scoring goals and winning countless trophies, fans, teammates and managers were willing to put up with him.

Now at the age of 41, his international career is almost certainly done following his decision to walk out on Portugal this week - but how did Ronaldo go from one of the most-revered and respected players in world football to a fading star seemingly determined to kick up a fuss every few weeks?

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Following his glittering first spell at Old Trafford, United fans were left jubilant after the Red Devils beat Manchester City to Ronaldo’s signature to bring him back to the club in 2021. And despite a productive first season with 24 goals to his name, it was really the beginning of the end for the forward at the highest level of football.

He was charged by the FA in 2022 for smashing a fan’s phone following a defeat at Everton, while just a year after returning, Ronaldo was already angling for a move away. He didn’t get his wish in 2022 but after a very public falling-out with then boss Erik ten Hag and that bombshell interview with Piers Morgan where he said he felt ‘betrayed’ and criticised the management of the club, Ronaldo’s contract was ripped up.

After leaving Old Trafford in acrimonious circumstances, Ronaldo’s next port of call was a move to the Middle East, where he pnned a record-breaking deal with Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr.

The Portuguese forward became one of the first high-profile players to move to the Gulf state and to his credit, a number of other elite names followed suit. Things started off promisingly well for Ronaldo in Saudi, having helped Al-Nassr to the Arab Club Champions Cup, while he also claimed the Pro League title last season.

Ronaldo’s goal record for the club is stupendous, having scored 132 goals in 155 games. But things haven’t always gone to plan for Ronaldo in the Middle East.

He infamously went on strike earlier this year to protest at the club’s lack of signings in the January transfer window. Ronaldo eventually missed two games before ultimately ending his strike after receiving a warning from Saudi bosses. And even this season, he was substituted by new boss Ange Postecoglou at half-time against Al-Ettifaq, with the side 2-0 down. Without Ronaldo, they came back to win.

While Ronaldo has not had things all his own way from a club perspective, the real issues have come on the international stage with Portugal. To his credit, Ronaldo is arguably the best Portuguese player of all-time.

He has netted 164 goals in 268 caps. But the times where he is an undoubted starter for the Selecao are long-since gone.

Ronaldo endured a miserable World Cup, with fans questioning Roberto Martinez’s decision to start him in every game as Portugal suffered elimination at the Round of 16 stage. He netted three times - two of those goals coming against Uzbekistan - with many questioning whether he should step back from international duty.

And that situation appears to have come to a head over the international break. Despite Portugal now being under fresh management - Ronaldo having been reunited with his former Al-Nassr boss Jorge Jesus - things have worsened.

As ever, Ronaldo was included in Jesus’ first squad and captained the side in their 1-0 win against Wales. But against Norway, the veteran forward was left as an unused substitute against Norway.

As to be expected, that did not go down well with the 41-year-old, who stormed straight down the tunnel and did not not acknowledge the travelling fans.

Boss Jesus suggested he would hold talks with his captain but things only appear to have gotten worse, with Ronaldo leaving camp and vowing not to play for his nation once again during the international break.

He said: "After the press conference of the national team, and following a conversation with the President of the Portuguese Football Federation, I have decided to leave the national team camp.

"In time, I will tell all the Portuguese the truth about the reasons that motivated me to leave the national team, to which I always devoted myself. Now is the time to wish Portugal and all my teammates good luck, without exception."

It now leaves Ronaldo’s international future in massive doubt, while he is also out of contract with Al-Nassr at the end of the season. Ronaldo's future would appear to be very much up in the air.

That could mean a very unremarkable end to a remarkable career for a player that should be considered one of the best of all-time and was the envy of the footballing world. And while that may no longer be the case, it would still be a very sad ending.