Jamie Carragher has praised Cristiano Ronaldo for the mental fortitude in competing with Lionel Messi for the last two decades - but added that the 37-year-old's recent behaviour has left people 'gunning for him'.
Ronaldo was released by Manchester United last month after an explosive interview with Piers Morgan in which he slated the club who employed him and admitted he had no respect for manager Erik ten Hag. Those statements were just the latest in a string of ill-advised decisions from the Portuguese international, who had previously stormed down the tunnel or out of Old Trafford prior to matches ending.
The veteran forward hoped to seek refuge with the Portugal squad in Qatar, but endured a similarly demoralising experience when he was benched for a round-of-16 match against Switzerland that his side - seemingly rejuvenated by his absence - won 6-1. Amid all of this, long-time rival Messi carried his Argentina side to a first World Cup since 1986, the crowning glory in his career and arguably the final honour to elevate him as the best player ever.
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Carragher has often been critical of Ronaldo during his most recent spell at Old Trafford, particularly after the interview last month in which the former Reds captain labelled the veteran's comments 'out of order' before warning the club should sack him. And while the 44-year-old believes Ronaldo's actions have by no means helped his cause, he praised the veteran's mental strength in constantly having to prove himself against Messi.
“I only watched the full interview a couple of days ago,” Carragher told the Diary of a CEO. “I'm not sure he's a guy who regrets anything or too much if I'm being totally honest. He certainly doesn't give off that, maybe in his private thoughts. I think the Portugal one [being benched] would've hurt him but he’s fallible, he's not superhuman, he's one of the greatest players of all time, he's special.
“I'm no huge Ronaldo fan and that's pretty obvious and that's not for his football ability. I've actually got so much admiration for him and his mental strength, I just think it's unbelievable. He’s probably one of the strongest mentally because he's had that thing his whole career, for how good he is, Messi's on his shoulder. He could never sit back and go 'I'm the best' and relax, it's constant 'you're not as good as Messi'.
“It splits people, but I'd say the majority of people would side with Messi - I would imagine. I think to always have that and to always have to prove people wrong, it's almost like he feels he's not rated - although he's one of the best of all time - and I can't help but admire that drive, because I've got that drive just not that ability that he's got.
“It's sad for him the way people are speaking about Messi towards the end of his career and Ronaldo - it's completely different. It's nothing to do with what's going on on the pitch, it's that idea that Ronaldo was about himself, his ego whereas Messi is painted as this saint figure I don't think that's true.
“People are talking about wanting Messi to win the World Cup, with Ronaldo it's like he's not the same player but who is the same player at 37? But he's getting criticised as a player at 37, 38 when really he should be getting lauded but the way he comes across, he storms off the pitch, storms down the tunnel, he's giving that interview, people are gunning for him now.”
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