Brazilian football icon Ronaldo Nazario has made the shocking admission that he can't bear to watch a game of football anymore.
Despite being hailed as one of the most talented players in the history of the sport, the two-time World Cup winner now prefers to indulge in marathon tennis sessions. The 47-year-old legend was the star attraction at the Mouratoglou Annual Charity Gala on the French Riviera last Sunday.
Demonstrating his passion for tennis, Ronaldo splurged a cool 30,000 euros at an auction for Coco Gauff's autographed racket from her 2023 US Open victory. Yet it was his critical view on modern football that really caught everyone off guard.
Ronaldo's preference for tennis over football left the 350-strong crowd at the gala and countless fans on social media utterly flabbergasted, particularly as the Euros and Copa America are captivating audiences worldwide. Ronaldo declared: "I think I love tennis more now than football.
"It's unbelievable, I cannot watch football matches. I think it's too boring. But I can stay for five hours watching tennis, it's crazy. I'm training three times a week."
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While his remarks have caused surprise, the sentiment expressed by the former Real Madrid and Barcelona forward is increasingly common among fans who lament the perceived decline in football's entertainment value and the scarcity of talent compared to the golden eras of the past.
The game's shift towards a highly professional and structured approach, with less room for individual brilliance, has been highlighted by the tactics of Pep Guardiola. This evolution in football has led to players often sacrificing their creative flair for the sake of team efficiency.
HAVE YOUR SAY! What do you think of Ronaldo's comments? Tell us in the comments section.
Tennis-lover Ronaldo Nazario is not a fan of modern football ((Image: Getty))Fellow Brazilian legend, Ronaldinho, revealed similar views as he expressed his disappointment with the current squad after their lacklustre 1-1 draw against the USA. He wrote on Instagram : "That's it folks, I've had enough."
Lamenting the state of Brazilian football, he added: "This is a sad moment for those who love Brazilian soccer. It's getting hard to find the spirit to watch the games. This is perhaps one of the worst teams in recent years, it has no respectable leaders, only average players for the majority.
"I've been following football since I was a kid, long before I thought about becoming a player, and I've never seen a situation as bad as this. Lack of love for the shirt, lack of grit and the most important of all: football. I'll repeat, our performance has been one of the worst things I've ever seen. Such a shame."
He concluded a dramatic statement by announcing he wouldn't be supporting the national team at the Copa America: "I therefore declare my resignation. I will not watch any CONMEBOL Copa America game, nor celebrate any victory."
Lionel Messi has also been critical about the lack of freedom in football ((Image: Getty))His harsh criticism understandably ruffled feathers within the Brazil squad, although he later disclosed that his outburst was part of an odd marketing stunt.
But even Lionel Messi, the record eight-time Ballon d'Or winner and widely regarded as the greatest footballer in history, has voiced concerns about Guardiola's influence on the game. Despite currently competing in the Copa America, Messi took time to comment on the impact of Guardiola's style of play.
The Argentine superstar stated: "The Guardiola era has caused a bit of confusion. Everyone wants to play like that now. They tell six/seven-year-olds to play with two touches, quickly. At that age, what happened with me needs to happen for these kids... we shouldn't take away their spontaneity."
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