Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo is in clear decline
The Portuguese international's team-mates are losing faith in the player as he head towards 32
Cristiano Ronaldo is back in the eye of the hurricane. While results accompanied him, the Real Madrid star could conceal his shortcomings, but the bubble has burst. The Ballon d'Or he collected recently served to suggest to those who do not watch Madrid's matches that CR7 is still CR7. But that is nothing further from the reality, because Ronaldo now only adds goals and, when the team most needs him, he rarely even offers that.
So far this season, the Portuguese has played a total of 22 matches, in which he has scored 18 goals and given six assists. Apparently, his record is more than good. However, the truth is that most of his goals came against second-tier opponents: Alaves, Osasuna, Betis, Granada, America, Kashima...
Taking a look at the games that can be considered demanding, Ronaldo's goal scoring changes significantly. He did not score against Villarreal, did not score against Barcelona, did not score against Athletic and did not score on Wednesday in the quarter-final of the Copa del Rey. He's increasingly not appearing at critical moments -- save this season's Madrid derby.
Another fact that makes that clear is that Cristiano has only scored in two of the nine games in which his team have not won this season. That is to say, when there are problems, CR7 is not the solution. Meanwhile, Messi has rescued Barça several times: at Anoeta, the Pizjuán, San Mamés...
Ronaldo's most outstanding performance of the season came against Atletico when he scored a hat-trick -- achieved with a penalty and a tap-in.
Numbers aside, CR7 no longer creates danger, as demonstrated by the fact that Zidane prefers to increasingly align him as No.9 and leave the wings for players who are good one-on-one, as is the case of Lucas Vázquez. Cristiano has gone a long time without being important in a game for Los Blancos, because he is only a finisher. It's Bale -- now injured -- Modric and Marcelo who lead the team.
So worrying are Ronaldo's performances that in Madrid they even admit as much. What's more, in recent days it's been suggested that the dressing room are losing confidence in him. On Wednesday, El Chiringuito assured that his team-mates are doubting him more and more all the time as he needs an average of seven shots to score a goal.
