Cristiano Ronaldo: Portugal’s polarising icon and his bitter final act

An inviting volley blazed over the bar, a trademark free kick clattering into the wall, and a showman’s celebrations cut short by an offside goal.In many ways, the frustrations Cristiano Ronaldo endured in his final match for Portugal reflected his long-altered reality – one of football’s most devastating players had become a liability.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3‘Right at home’: Harry Kane extends Bayern Munich contract until 2029list 2 of 3Spanish footballer Jesus de Miguel mourned by family and friendslist 3 of 3Who is Kozo Tashima, the Japanese official running for FIFA presidency?end of listFor many, Ronaldo’s fall from grace could hardly be crueller.The boy from Madeira captivated the world for years with his jaw-dropping talent, age-defying athleticism and larger-than-life personality. Yet the final chapter of his international career had anything but a fairytale ending – a forgettable climax to an otherwise illustrious journey.Ronaldo has walked away from the national team with individual achievements most footballers can only dream of: the all-time record for international appearances (234) and goals (146).“Portugal will always be a part of me,” the 41-ye...