Football is steeped in misplaced masculinity, and it is important to talk about myths and stigmas. Crying is one such act that is easily condescended at, overlooking the emotional, mental and physical trauma elite athletes often have to endure throughout their careers to function at a certain level.
On 19 September, Cristiano Ronaldo woke up with a feeling of bliss tickling his stomach – unaware yet of the upcoming conflict that would etch his reputation for months/years to come. However, this article is not about that. It was Wednesday, a Champions League Wednesday. Valencia v Juventus on the first match day of the latest European Cup edition. A game that was predominantly billed as Ronaldo’s Champions League debut under La Vecchia Signora’s flag. Alas, as many of you undoubtedly noticed, not everything went accordingly that evening.
Even though Ronaldo began the game well, instigating two clear-cut opportunities for his team, he soon allowed himself to be provoked by provocation. At the 29th minute, Jeison Murillo fell (arguably without reason) at the side of his own penalty box. Ronaldo, as temperamental as he is, thought he had seen enough, and hence decided to lay a hand on the Columbian. In a matter of split-seconds, he moved his hand hastily, before slowing it down a little and finally settling for a brief ruffling.
The act didn’t go down well amid the non-Juventini present on the pitch. The sequence concluded when Felix Brych, convinced by his assistant Marco Fritz, showed a red card to Ronaldo. The usual protagonist couldn’t believe his fate, shattered to tears and exited the pasture a devastated man.