Mark Madden's Hot Take: Narcissistic Cristiano Ronaldo steals spotlight from World Cup

Cristiano Ronaldo is soccer’s version of Antonio Brown. A lot better, admittedly, and slightly less crazy.

But no less narcissistic.

On the eve of the World Cup, Ronaldo has done interviews lambasting his club, Manchester United, and those who would dare be critical of him.

United have found success without Ronaldo in the lineup. Ronaldo doesn’t like riding the bench.

But at 37, Ronaldo just isn’t that great anymore. He’s still good enough to lead Portugal’s line at Qatar. He will matriculate to a retirement job in MLS soon enough.

But with United having won no trophies since 2017, new manager Erik ten Hag is going younger, faster and more team-first.

These days, Ronaldo is only good on the ball. He can’t press and hates chasing back. He has just one goal in 520 minutes of Premier League soccer. He has refused to be used as a late substitute. He left one game early when he didn’t play.

United are better minus Ronaldo. They have beaten Liverpool, Tottenham and Premier League leader Arsenal without Ronaldo starting.

Ronaldo used words like “betrayed.” He said he has “no respect” for ten Hag.

But it’s Ronaldo who has betrayed United.

As a Liverpool supporter, I loathe United. But no player is bigger than a club like that.

Ronaldo is more of a Real Madrid legend, anyway. He played there longer and accomplished much more.

United responded to Ronaldo’s tantrums by removing a mural of Ronaldo from the wall of their home stadium, Old Trafford, and making plans to ditch Ronaldo ASAP.

Not that top European clubs are lining up to get a declining superstar who’s more trouble than he’s worth.

Ronaldo said he was close to joining Premier League superpower Manchester City in 2021. City immediately leaked a denial.

Ronaldo wouldn’t be able to get on the field at City. City is loaded up front. Ronaldo lied to save face.

That’s what narcissists do. It’s always about them.

Ronaldo always has been 100% about himself. It was tolerable when he was among the world’s top two players along with Lionel Messi.

It’s no longer tolerable. Messi, 35, is aging much more gracefully.

But trying to steal the spotlight from the World Cup is narcissism of which even Brown would be proud.