A World Cup-winning footballer has issued a serious warning to Portugal’s coach, Roberto Martinez, insisting that leaving Cristiano Ronaldo out of the squad is crucial for their success at Euro 2024.
Frank Leboeuf, who was part of France’s victorious teams in the 1998 World Cup and 2000 Euros, strongly believes in the need to exclude the 39-year-old forward from Portugal’s Euro 2024 campaign.
Leboeuf’s statement
Despite Ronaldo’s leadership as captain and his impressive scoring record during qualifiers, Leboeuf argues that the veteran forward’s move to the Saudi Pro League with Al-Nassr has affected his performance at the top level.
“For me, Portugal are actually one of the contenders for this summer’s European Championships,’ Leboeuf said, per the Daily Mail.
“I actually think they can win the Euros, but only if Cristiano Ronaldo doesn’t play. You cannot take away anything that Ronaldo has done for football just because he has gone to retire in the Saudi League.
“I want to thank him for taking the sport to another level, but there is an end for everyone. He has every right to play in Saudi Arabia, although I’m not sure he needed even more money.
“I have no problem with players coming to the end of their careers going to play in lesser leagues to earn more money, the same has happened with Lionel Messi.
“Both of them were fantastic players but they have chosen not to play at the top level anymore and we have to respect that. You can never take away what they have done for football. The competition between those two actually made the entire sport better. It made it more attractive.”, Lebeouf said.
Frank Leboeuf acknowledges Ronaldo’s contribution to football
While acknowledging Ronaldo’s immense contributions to football, Leboeuf emphasizes the importance of respecting the forward’s decision to transition to a less competitive league as he nears the end of his career.
Despite Ronaldo’s extraordinary achievements, including a record-breaking 14 goals at the Euros, Leboeuf stresses the importance of prioritizing the team’s success over individual honors.
