talkSPORT host Angie Kelly believes Ronaldo is better suited for individual sports than team sports.

Kelly stated that Ronaldo should have chosen a different career path following his departure from the Portugal national team.

Ronaldo left the Portugal squad during their Nations League campaign over dissatisfaction with playing time and unfulfilled promises.

The 41-year-old started in Portugal's 1-0 victory over Wales but was substituted in the match against Norway, and was later called to warm up.

Ronaldo then left the training camp and, in a lengthy statement, criticized Portugal coach Jorge Jesus, raising questions about his future with the national team. However, Ronaldo has since clarified that he has not retired from international football, and Jesus has stated that the forward still has a chance to return.

As one of the greatest players of all time, Ronaldo has clearly struggled to accept his diminishing role in the Portugal team recently.

The Al Nassr star endured a difficult 2026 World Cup campaign. Despite scoring in his sixth World Cup, he could not prevent Portugal's early elimination. The Portugal squad featured world-class players then and again at the 2024 European Championship.

In both tournaments, then-Portugal coach Roberto Martinez resisted calls to bench Ronaldo. Despite the five-time Ballon d'Or winner's declining performance in major competitions, Martinez believed in his ability to lead the national team's attack.

Kelly believes that Ronaldo's constant need to be the team's focal point indicates he is better suited for individual sports.

On talkSPORT's daily podcast, Fiery Fridays, she said: "The problem with Cristiano Ronaldo is that this day was always going to come – that he can't gracefully accept getting older, and he can't gracefully accept that he's no longer the main man.

"And because of that, all I can conclude is that he shouldn't have been a footballer in the first place.

"Age was always going to catch up to him, he was always going to have to face the reality that he's no longer the best in the world, and he was always going to have to accept that he's actually a hindrance to the team, not a help.

"But the problem is, Ronaldo can't accept that. He can't accept that he's no longer the best, he can't accept that a team might be better without him, and he can't accept that he's not needed like he used to be."

Ronaldo has never hidden his ambition to be the greatest player of all time, openly expressing this desire. Even in the twilight of his career, he remains fixated on individual records, most notably his goal of reaching 1,000 career goals.

Kelly maintained that all of this demonstrates Ronaldo would have found more fulfillment in another sport.

She continued: "Ronaldo needs to feel objectively like he's the strongest, the greatest of all time.

"But football doesn't work like that – it's a team game with many different players and brilliant performances. It's not like a sprint, where you can set a world record that no one will ever touch, and if you lose, it's all on you.

"In football, Ronaldo can blame others – the coach, the team, the referee, anyone."

Kelly also contrasted Ronaldo's recent struggles with the national team to Messi's emotional farewell to Argentina, viewing it as an example of a player who can accept the end of a glorious chapter.

She stated: "Ultimately, football hasn't really fulfilled him. He's put a lot into it, but hasn't gotten the return he wanted.

"If he was truly fulfilled, I don't think he would act this way – throwing tantrums like a child when a coach changes his mind.

"He's been successful, has many fans, and has earned a lot of money, but what he truly wants is something he'll never get – unless the fountain of youth truly exists.

"But maybe he should have applied his talent and professionalism to another sport or chosen a different profession. Because football has never and will never truly satisfy him.

"Compare the possible end of his national team career with Messi's ending – a beautiful and moving farewell, with packed stadiums in Argentina, everyone in tears, waving goodbye – that's someone who is truly fulfilled by their career and knows when to stop."

Kelly concluded: "Many fans appreciate that Ronaldo treats football as a profession, and there's nothing wrong with that – he did many wonderful things at Manchester United.

"But for Ronaldo the person, his professional outlook meant the ending wouldn't be good. Maybe he should have found another profession, one that might not be as famous or successful, might not have won him the Ballon d'Or, or made him as rich.

"But maybe, just maybe, I think he would have been happier."

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