Has Man Utd legend Ronaldo played his last Champions League game?

FT Desk

• 16 Mar 2022 10:47 GMT
• 4 min read

A five-time Champions League winner, Cristiano Ronaldo cut a frustrated figure as Manchester United were dumped at the last 16 stage by Atletico Madrid on Tuesday. Now 37, has he played his last game in the competition?

One thing is clear: there is no guarantee United will make a quick return to European football's top table. While the top four in England all qualify directly for next season's group stage, Ralf Rangnick's side are currently fifth in the league, one point from Arsenal in fourth, but having played three games more.

Ferdinand: 'season over'

For Rio Ferdinand - the former centre-back who won the Champions League alongside Ronaldo with United in 2008 - this season is a busted flush.

"For Man Utd, the season to me seems over - what is there to really achieve?" he asked rhetorically, sitting beside fellow 2008 alumni Paul Scholes and Owen Hargreaves on BT Sport. "They're floundering behind Arsenal if they win their games in hand.

"There's so much work to be done. If you're looking to come here, it's a great project to be a part of, but I think managers might look at other clubs because there's less pressure where the spotlight isn't on them as much."

While Rangnick's position has come under question, Ronaldo's return from Juventus last summer has also divided opinion. Yes, the Portuguese has plundered 18 goals in 32 games in all competitions - which included a hat-trick in Saturday's 3-2 win over Tottenham Hotspur - but he also presses from the front less than Anthony Martial or Marcus Rashford did last season.

With fellow summer arrival Raphael Varane injured for long periods, captain Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof have been paired at centre-back just as frequently this season as last. Yet United have already leaked just four less goals in the Premier League with nine fewer games played. Perhaps the problem lies further forward?

If the record English champions go on another shopping spree at the end of the season - they spent €150m (£126m) last summer - some might be glad to see Ronaldo go the other way.

The Portuguese should have no shortage of suitors, in principle. He rejoined the red half of Manchester last August after Manchester City had looked to be on the cusp of securing his signature. "Sir Alex Ferguson played a big role," Ronaldo confessed at the time.

Ronaldo signed a two-year deal, though, and with City scorned, Chelsea sanctioned by the UK government due to Roman Abramovich's ties with Vladimir Putin, and Barcelona in financial dire straits, Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain are perhaps the only clubs in world football who could afford him.

Real Madrid focused on Mbappe

Ronaldo fired Real Madrid to three consecutive Champions Leagues between 2016 and 2018, but the Spanish giants seem fixated on acquiring Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland over the next couple of seasons, while PSG operate in a league four places below England's in the most recent UEFA coefficients - perhaps unlikely to get Ronaldo's juices flowing.

The club legend therefore looks likely to at least see out his contract, and United could yet qualify this term. Ferguson has also previously predicted that Ronaldo could play at the top until he is 40, and it wouldn't be safe to bet against the Portuguese adding to his 136 goals all-time for the club.

If they miss out this season, and next, then perhaps Ronaldo has played his last game in the Champions League. But if they qualify next term in Ronaldo's final year, expect him to extend, and have another crack at bringing home a sixth European crown.