Tom Brady, LeBron James and Cristiano Ronaldo are three figures who have dominated their respective sports for two decades only to finally feel Father Time breathing down their neck.
Brady was the first of the stars to blink, retiring from the NFL earlier this year only to reverse his decision in order to chase an eighth Super Bowl ring with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2022. Ronaldo and James have never been so close to retiring from football or basketball, but they find themselves in a similar situation to the quarterback now.
These are three players who are considered generation-defining figures deserving of their place among the all-time greats. However, as their respective careers wind down and their incredible abilities begin to wane, the cloak of invincibility is removed ever so slightly while the trio suffer at their respective teams.
Sure, Brady’s story differs from James’ with the Los Angeles Lakers, whose situation is different to Ronaldo’s at Manchester United. But they are tied together by their greatness combining with anguish amid current events.
Let’s start with James. For the first time in his career, the three-time MVP owned the worst record in the NBA after the Lakers started 0-5 before they finally secured their first win of the season, defeating the Denver Nuggets 121-110 on Sunday night.
Averaging 25.8 points, 8.8 rebounds and 7.3 assists per match - while also adding defensive hustle in the win over the Nuggets - the 37-year-old’s situation isn’t down to his ability declining at any given rate. Rather, he plays for a dysfunctional organisation that has failed to surround him with shooting.
Shooting is a prerequisite to successful team-building in the modern NBA, especially when your offence runs through one of the greatest passers in league history in James. But the Lakers have struggled, shooting a league-worst 26.% from beyond the arc through six games.
The Lakers are without a number of draft picks following high-profile trades to bring both Anthony Davis and Russell Westbrook to Los Angeles - and without picks to retool around James, the team could only turn to Patrick Beverley, Dennis Schroder, Lonnie Walker IV in free agency. Walker was let go by the rebuilding San Antonio Spurs, which perhaps tells you all you need to know about Los Angeles and their roster construction, while Schroder returned after an unsuccessful first stint with the team.
It seems James may not get the Hollywood ending he envisioned, and Brady is having similar difficulties riding off into the sunset. The seven-time Super Bowl champion reversed his retirement after just 40 days this offseason, and many thought he would continue to play at an MVP level following his remarkable 2021 season.
The 45-year-old’s performances in 2022 have been a far cry from last season. For the first time in 20 years, Brady has suffered a three-game losing streak following defeats to the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Carolina Panthers and the Baltimore Ravens. Brady threw for 325 yards in the 27-22 loss to Lamar Jackson and co., but he only tossed one touchdown after not throwing any against the hapless Panthers.
With the Bucs sitting on a 3-5 record, it is the first time in the iconic quarterback’s storied career that he is under .500 for two games in a row. Brady is projected to score just over 20 touchdowns compared to 43 in 2021, while he is also set to throw less yards and his passer rating of 92.4 is not only a sharp drop off from last season’s 102.1, but it is his second-lowest since 2013.
Brady and James are - willingly or not - trapped in franchises who have failed to sufficiently take advantage of their enduring greatness in their twilight years. Ronaldo’s issue is similar, but with key differences.
Ronaldo is no longer the heart, soul and face of Manchester United with the Portuguese ace dropped to the bench under new manager Erik ten Hag, despite leading the club in goals a year ago. He has netted just one goal in 427 minutes of action while the 37-year-old has underperformed his expected goals.
He doesn’t play the same crucial role James orchestrates for the Lakers nor is he the centrepiece of the team’s offence as Brady is for the Buccaneers. But if the season goes on as it has begun, questions surrounding the trio will continue to arise: when should these all-time greats no longer be considered great?
The legendary longevity of Brady, James and Ronaldo should be celebrated - but all good things must come to an end. If only they could see it; perhaps they could come to terms with it to evolve and perhaps even extend their careers re-energised by a new role.
