The negative "Don" syndrome is back... Is it intentional?

In the world of football, which glorifies legends and obscures the shadows, there is a rarely told dark side to the career of Cristiano Ronaldo, who emerged as a young star from the Serie A academy.

"The Don" had a long journey defending the colors of European giants such as Manchester United (two periods), Real Madrid and Juventus, during which he won every possible title.

With his national team, he succeeded in winning titles, but there is an important piece missing from the "Madeira Rocket's" trophy cabinet; the World Cup, in which he first appeared in the 2006 edition in Germany.
Cristiano Ronaldo won the European Championship "Euro 2016" and the UEFA Nations League in 2019 and 2025 with the Portuguese national team, leaving his dream of winning the World Cup alive in his final days before retirement.

However, there is a “negative syndrome” that has accompanied Cristiano Ronaldo throughout his career, preceding his participation in the World Cup finals, throughout the five editions in which he appeared: (2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022).

Cristiano Ronaldo is expected to make his sixth appearance at the World Cup next summer, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada between June 11 and July 19.

It is as if it is a “curse” that strikes the Portuguese star at the same time; before every World Cup, and it even accompanied him after joining the Saudi League through the gateway of Al-Nasr team, which he hoped to break it with.

The negative "Don" syndrome is back... Is it intentional?

In the world of football, which glorifies legends and obscures the shadows, there is a rarely told dark side to the career of Cristiano Ronaldo, who emerged as a young star from the Serie A academy.

"The Don" had a long journey defending the colors of European giants such as Manchester United (two periods), Real Madrid and Juventus, during which he won every possible title.

With his national team, he succeeded in winning titles, but there is an important piece missing from the "Madeira Rocket's" trophy cabinet; the World Cup, in which he first appeared in the 2006 edition in Germany.

Cristiano Ronaldo won the European Championship "Euro 2016" and the UEFA Nations League in 2019 and 2025 with the Portuguese national team, leaving his dream of winning the World Cup alive in his final days before retirement.

However, there is a “negative syndrome” that has accompanied Cristiano Ronaldo throughout his career, preceding his participation in the World Cup finals, throughout the five editions in which he appeared: (2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022).

Cristiano Ronaldo is expected to make his sixth appearance at the World Cup next summer, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada between June 11 and July 19.

It is as if it is a “curse” that strikes the Portuguese star at the same time; before every World Cup, and it even accompanied him after joining the Saudi League through the gateway of Al-Nasr team, which he hoped to break it with.