I don't think there has ever been an athlete in the history of sports as disrespected as Cristiano Ronaldo.

Before Portugal's game against Uzbekistan, I saw a level of hate from media, from pundits, from journalists, from newspapers, and even former players that was really incomparable. I am really trying not to over-exaggerate here, but I really can't find one example in the last 20 years where a sportsman has been so systematically, consistently, and collectively opposed by an entire establishment that for so long has just tried to bring him down.

When people say that Cristiano Ronaldo is the GOAT, it's not necessarily just about the football. It's because of the fact that he was the man who went up against an entire system alone. Because Cristiano Ronaldo was never liked by the general media, he was never liked by FIFA presidents, he has been disrespected by so many legends. And it was never objective criticism, but rather an element of jealousy, mostly because Ronaldo probably once just absolutely destroyed them on the pitch.

Whatever he does, it's wrong. If he doesn't score, he sucks. If he scores, he is scoring the wrong way. If he scores the right way, it's because the opponent is weak. If he scores against a great opponent, he is lucky. When in reality, for two decades, he has been doing this consistently.

I think what it is, is the fact that the media just can't stand his personality. Because Cristiano Ronaldo has always openly believed in himself. And the fact that he gets hate for that, when all he really did was just teaching an entire generation how to believe in themselves, is just so sad.

Because we are now seeing the last dance of the GOATs. But while one gets all the praise, the other just gets hate.

I love Lionel Messi. I wouldn't even be angry if he won another World Cup. Because I actually love Argentina. I love their national team, their country, and their culture as a whole. But it just makes me sad that the treatment that they receive has always been so different.

People always say that the world needs a villain. And for some reason, they picked Cristiano Ronaldo to become that villain. When he actually was the hero. And you don't need to have just one hero. Sometimes you can actually have two heroes in the same movie.

I guess that the only villains here is really the media and the system, who decided to not give them the equal respect and love that they both deserved.

And for me, I will always stand on the side of the one who stood alone. And I just hope that people can finally just enjoy the show before he steps down from the throne.