Bixente Lizarazu has warned Cristiano Ronaldo that the ego which helped drive him to the top of world football could become his greatest opponent as he approaches the final stage of his Portugal career.
The former France international, a World Cup winner and European champion, said the way Ronaldo’s time with the national team ends could have a major impact on the player’s image. According to Portuguese newspaper Record, Lizarazu believes Ronaldo, Portugal’s Football Federation and manager Jorge Jesus all share responsibility for the current crisis.
He described allowing the disagreement to continue in its present form as a “serious mistake”, given the status Ronaldo holds in the history of Portuguese football.
Lizarazu said bringing the relationship between Ronaldo and Portugal to an end in this manner would be “catastrophic” from a public and reputational perspective. He called for an agreement that would protect Ronaldo’s standing and give him a farewell worthy of his exceptional career with the national side.
The former France defender also discussed the difficulties experienced by elite players as they grow older. He said Ronaldo’s biggest challenge was accepting that some of his physical abilities had declined after spending his career presenting himself as a player who never stopped and knew no limits.
Lizarazu believes the answer lies in a clear discussion involving Ronaldo, Jesus and the Portuguese Football Federation. That conversation should establish the player’s role without ambiguity, including whether he would feature for limited periods or be rested for certain matches.
He warned that promising Ronaldo playing time and then leaving him on the substitutes’ bench could damage the trust between the two sides.
The former world champion linked the dispute to Ronaldo’s intensely competitive personality. He said the player’s ego had been one of the secrets of his success, pushing him to work exceptionally hard and break records throughout his career.
However, Lizarazu believes that same characteristic could now work against Ronaldo if he fails to accept what is required during the closing phase of his career.
He ended his message with a stark warning to the Al Nassr captain.
“That was your strength, but it is now your worst enemy, because you have reached the age you have reached, and you will end up in an elephant graveyard, I guarantee you that,” said Lizarazu.
