Euro 2000 champion Frank Leboeuf has declared Portugal as real contenders at Euro 2024 this summer eliminating the aging Cristiano Ronaldo.
Former player Frank Leboeuf was famous for Chelsea and won two consecutive major tournaments with the French team, the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000. He believes that Portugal has a chance to win the second European championship. The house would be brighter without the presence of Cristiano Ronaldo.
“For me, Portugal is one of the candidates for the Euro championship this summer. I really think they can win the championship, but only if Ronaldo doesn’t play,” Leboeuf said on BetVictor on March 4.
The 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000 champion also said he felt uncomfortable when he heard Ronaldo say that the Saudi Pro League was better than Ligue 1. He questioned why the Portuguese striker chose Ligue 1 to compare, instead of because of the Portuguese championship, and answered that it could only be because Lionel Messi used to play in Ligue 1.
“I have a lot of respect for Ronaldo as a player, but come on, that’s enough,” Leboeuf added.
Ronaldo has captained Portugal in all but one of the 10 Euro 2024 qualifying matches, scoring 10 goals in nine appearances. But signs of age are the biggest obstacle for the owner of 5 Golden Ball titles.
Specifically, Ronaldo in the most recent major tournament, the 2022 World Cup, only had 1 goal from a free kick situation. CR7 has also not spoken up in the knockout rounds of the three major tournaments since the 2018 World Cup until now. This raises concerns about being able to compete for a starting position with the emerging young and strong strikers of the European Selecao.
However, Ronaldo is definitely still the spiritual leader of the Portuguese team and coach Roberto Martinez has no reason to eliminate the best player of the Iberian Peninsula team. The upcoming European Championship will be Ronaldo’s 6th Euro, more than any other player.
Since the beginning of 2023, Ronaldo has moved to play in Saudi Arabia. According to Leboeuf, this is not related to the desire to conquer, but is a sign that the former Real and Man Utd striker is at the end of his career.
“He has the right to retire in Saudi Arabia, although I’m not sure if Ronaldo needs more money or not! I have no problem with players nearing the end of their careers playing in smaller leagues to earn more money, the same thing happened with Lionel Messi. They’re both like that, they’re great players but they’re not playing at the highest level anymore and have to admit that.”
Before joining Al Nassr and enjoying an income of about 200 million USD per year, Ronaldo had five Champions League, three Premier League, two La Liga and two Serie A. In 2022, he contacted clubs Played in the Champions League but failed, before being terminated by Man Utd for indiscipline.
