'Unbalanced' Ronaldo is in love with himself, says Boban

Croatia legend Zvonimir Boban has hit out at Portugal international Cristiano Ronaldo in the wake of the World Cup and feels the Real Madrid star's tendency to put himself ahead of the team cost them at this summer's tournament.



The 29-year-old couldn't prevent his side from crashing out in the group stages in Brazil - despite scoring once and setting up another in three appearances - as they had to settle for third place behind Germany and USA and Boban thinks the presence of Ronaldo indirectly cost Portugal.

"Ronaldo is an amazing player and he showed that again in Brazil, even if he missed a number of chances," Boban writes in his column for Sportske Novosti. "But his biggest flaw is the way he looks at himself and the team.

"He scored the 4-1 in the 120th minute of the Champions League final and celebrated like he was insane. That was the ultimate proof that he loves himself. The headlines should be about the team, not about Ronaldo.

"The same thing happened with Portugal in Brazil. There was no order or discipline. All the Portugal players were playing their own game and more occupied with their hair and tattoos. It's Hollywood behaviour.

"It's almost as if the players wanted to show there's more to Portugal than Ronaldo. It's a sad thing that a team loses its identity because of an unbalanced captain, both for Ronaldo and for an entire generation."