Cristiano Ronaldo has returned to Al Nassr after leaving the Portuguese national camp early. Consequently, after his suspension, Ronaldo missed the highly anticipated match against Luxembourg, in which Portugal dominated, winning remarkably in a 9-0 victory. What truly grabbed the attention of fans was the response that followed, especially from a Dutch soccer legend who boldly asserted that Portugal performs better in Ronaldo’s absence.

Portugal secured their biggest-ever win by defeating Luxembourg with a remarkable scoreline of 9-0 during the European qualifiers. During this game, Cristiano Ronaldo was notably absent due to a suspension resulting from a yellow card against Slovakia.

Dutch legend claims Portugal performs better without Ronaldo

Following Portugal’s impressive win, Youri Mulder, a former Dutch international, made a surprising assertion – Portugal performs better when Cristiano Ronaldo is not on their team. He went on to praise Portugal’s overall strength, highlighting the exceptional talent of players like Bernardo Silva, João Félix, Gonçalo Ramos, and the formidable Rúben Dias. However, Mulder did not stop there.

In a startling twist, he declared, “There’s just one small problem. I still think Portugal is stronger without Ronaldo. This Ramos is a real spearhead. Even at the World Cup, I had the feeling that the team was better without him [Cristiano Ronaldo]. Why is that? He seeks his own success. He’s the leader, but he gets all the attention. That can be destabilizing.” 

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These words, coming from someone who has experienced the pressures of international football, raised intriguing questions about Ronaldo’s impact on the Portuguese national team.

Cristiano Ronaldo’s career has been nothing short of extraordinary. He has scored a world-record 123 goals since making his debut for Portugal in 2003. Additionally, he holds the highest caps in men’s international soccer, having played 201 games for his country.

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Over his 20-year career, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner has consistently shattered records wherever he has played. After leaving the Portuguese national camp early due to suspension, Ronaldo resumed his club duties with Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia. 

Even at 38, Cristiano Ronaldo continues to dazzle

The Portuguese sensation joined the Saudi club in January and has already significantly impacted. Since his arrival, he has been nothing short of spectacular, netting an impressive 20 goals in just 20 appearances for Al Nassr FC in the Saudi Pro League. His contributions have been pivotal, propelling the team to success.

Despite his individual brilliance, Ronaldo’s efforts were not enough to secure a trophy for Al Nassr in his first season in Saudi Arabia. Al-Ittihad claimed victory in the Saudi Pro League table that year. However, Ronaldo’s impact on the team would soon become undeniable.

In a memorable turn of events, Al Nassr clinched their first Arab Club Champions Cup in 2023, and much of the credit goes to Cristiano Ronaldo. He notched two crucial goals in the final, sealing a dramatic victory against arch-rivals Al Hilal.

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