They say that people die three years after they retire, that the loss of something meaningful to do ruins their desire to live. This idea of life as a conscious decision might seem a little too dramatic to be real, but Cristiano Ronaldo’s rejuvenation over the past month leads to the contrary. The possibility of success this year has given Ronaldo a new lease on life.
He has played well all year, but only recently, only after Barcelona stumbled and opened up the possibility of a league title and a double for Real Madrid has Ronaldo changed his style of play, attacking like he has in years past instead of settling for a poacher’s role.
It all started with his game-winning goal in El Clasico. After he scored it and before the final whistle blew, he was all smiles. He would chase after balls he hadn’t always chased after. He was making a conscious effort to play better, to be an example on the pitch.
In the zone. Photo: @ChampionsLeague | Twitter
Ronaldo eventually translated that Clasico winner into a second leg hat-trick against Wolfsburg in the Champions League. His three goals single-handedly over turned a 2-0 deficit from the first leg and allowed Madrid to progress. It was an absolutely heroic feat.
Those successes manifested themselves in an unexpected way against Villareal. All of the sudden the man whose athleticism had seemingly been in decline for two years, who ran less, dribbled less, and took less touches, was taking the game by the scruff its the neck. He repeatedly ran at defenders with the ball at this feet and took shots from distance. He impacted the game and did it without scoring: something that his critics thought was no longer in his repertoire, or his legs. He turned back the clock, and played more like the Ronaldo we used to know, Ronaldo the winger:
The change in style of play coincided with Real Madrid’s prospects of winning the double greatly improving. Ronaldo scored his hat-trick against Wolfsburg and progressed Real Madrid to the semi-finals of the Champions League on April 12; Real Madrid drew Manchester City as its semifinal opponent, the easiest of all the draws, on April 15; and Barcelona stumbled in La Liga on April 16, allowing Madrid and Ronaldo to take the field against Villarreal on April 20 within one point of first place in La Liga for the first time since Halloween. Within the course of 9 days, Ronaldo went from being an outsider in two competitions to the best player on a team with a shot at winning the double.
Adding to the motivation the double provides, should Ronaldo win in, he will be a favorite for the 2016 Ballon d’Or. Especially if Barcelona don’t win the Copa del Rey, which would muddy the bids of both Lionel Messi and the only other competitor likely to make the shortlist, Luis Suarez. Not to mention that any additional goals Ronaldo scores in the Champions League will only extend Ronaldo’s (93) 10 goal lead over Messi (83) at the top of the list of all-time Champions League top scorers.
With so much motivation to win the double, we can expect more performances from Ronaldo like the one against Villarreal as long as winning the double is still possible, which is a very scary prospect for Manchester City.
When Madrid plays Manchester City on Tuesday, April 26 at 2:45 pm EST, look for Ronaldo the winger will show up again (for those concerned about injury, Zidane has said Ronaldo is definitely playing). He will play as if he has a new lease on life, and in terms of this season, he really does. He can thank himself, Zidane, his teammates, and Barcelona for that, but he will look to himself to make the most of it.
If the opportunity to do that isn't worth living for, what is?
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