Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the - if not the - biggest Real Madrid legends of all time. He has won it all with Los Blancos, and his departure, on a personal level, was the most difficult to process.
He has left such a big impact at Madrid that rumours about him potentially returning to the club pop up every summer, almost unsolicited.
There are numerous fans still clinging to the idea of a dreamy Ronaldo return for one last time. And though the emotion is understandable, there’s little substance behind those aspirations.
Cristiano’s time at Los Blancos gave him one of the best teammates of his career in Marcelo, with whom he terrorized the best teams in Europe from the left side.
Marcelo, who is still actively involved with the club through his son’s presence in La Fabrica, recently revealed his dream 5-a-side team and shocked fans with one unexpected pick.
Marcelo picks former Real Madrid midfielder over Cristiano Ronaldo
When asked about his ideal 5-a-side team, the former left-back named the following players: Manuel Neuer, Marcelo himself, Luka Modric, Toni Kroos, and Isco.
The interviewer was visibly shocked at the last pick, as he had expected Cristiano to make the list. On being asked about the snub of his best mate, Marcelo clarified:
“Indoor football is different. I don’t think Cristiano would want to play indoor football.”
And while Marcelo’s exclusion of Ronaldo may enrage fans, it actually makes a lot of sense given the technical demands of modern 5-a-side football.
With the five players he chose, Marcelo made it clear that he categorically prioritised creativity and playmaking over pure, explosive goalscoring, which is what Ronaldo primarily brings.
It must be understood that given Ronaldo’s profile, he is not best suited for a 5-a-side game. He is a technical player and a lethal goal scorer on a full-sized pitch with ample space for high-speed runs.
In contrast, 5-a-side football is centred around tight spaces, clever and timely passing, and ball retention. The goal scorer can be anyone; a designated striker is not essential.
Cristiano simply offers a different profile, and thus Marcelo’s decision to exclude him makes total sense. In fact, choosing Isco over him in that format is perfectly justified.