Cristiano Ronaldo is a different player at Euro 2024 – but his move to Saudi Arabia has made him even BETTER

07/01/2024 02:38 AM

CRISTIANO RONALDO has sparked more gasps of amazement than most — yet this was a jaw-dropper with a difference.

Yet, for once, it wasn't a rub-your-eyes wonder goal or flash of genius . . . but when the Portugal skipper handed Bruno Fernandes a tap-in rather than smash international goal No 131.

Ever since Ronaldo's selfless set-up, for the second goal in a 3-0 win over Turkey, the soccer psychologists have been scratching their heads.

Some insist it was because he wanted to set a new Euros record for assists, others reckon it was for Fernandes' daughter Matilde, whose name is stitched on his boots.

Yet another believes it is all part of the new-look Ronaldo, who has become the ultimate team player rather than the one-man show of old.

Much-travelled Portuguese manager Carlos Carvalhal is well known to English fans, with Sheffield Wednesday and Swansea just two of the clubs on his CV.

Carvalhal is convinced Ronaldo's megabucks switch to Saudi Arabia last year is the reason behind his all-change approach.

For he thinks swapping  pressure-cooker European football for Al-Nassr has put new life into those 39-year-old legs — to the point he now accepts he doesn't have to be the star of the show.

Carvalhal insisted: "I think going to Saudi was the best decision he could make because now he is more relaxed, not under so much pressure and enjoying himself.

"This is a different player, whose contribution to the team is better.

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"In the friendly against Ireland before the Euros, his body image was saying, 'Here I am, I want to help my country'.

Cristiano was much more involved in building the attack, not just wanting to be the one who scored the goals when he got near the box.

"He is intelligent and knows he doesn't have the capacity to beat a defender in a one-on-one in the same explosive way as the past. He can do but it's not really his game any more.

"You can see he is offering more in the build-ups. He is clever and has adapted to help the team.

"His own performance is obviously crucial to him, he's a competitive animal, and is still scoring.

"The goals, assists and number of games he has played are the same as when he was in Europe, too, so he certainly isn't frustrated.

"It doesn't mean he won't carry on scoring for Portugal. If you're an opponent, you don't want to be facing a thirsty, competitive, very confident Cristiano — and he is."

It is a hunger which has brought a record-breaking 130 goals in 210 games for his country.

In the final Group F game against Georgia, Ronaldo's passion was clear to see.

He was fuming with the ref for not giving a penalty when his shirt was pulled and his complaints earned him a yellow.

Boss Roberto Martinez perhaps surprisingly did not opt to rest Ronaldo in that game, which ended up in a 2-0 defeat.

They have such a deep squad that the days when Portugal's  fortunes were determined by captain Ronaldo's form are long gone.

Tonight against Slovenia in the last 16, Ronaldo will be looking to add to his Euros goals tally of 14.

Carvalhal added: "Portugal are definitely one of the favourites."