A FIFA World Cup winner has made the shock claim that Portugal superstar Cristiano Ronaldo is the "big flop" of the recently concluded showpiece in Qatar.
Ronaldo had a tournament to forget in the Middle East, managing to get on the scoresheet just once in the five matches he played.
Read: 'I wouldn't be surprised if Ronaldo decides to retire'
The five-time Ballon d'Or winner's only goal came via a penalty during his side's opening fixture against Ghana last month.
The free agent was denied a second goal, one that he initially seemed to claim, in the following match against Uruguay, with his teammate Bruno Fernandes being awarded the strike despite it appearing to graze the 37-year-old's head on its way into the back of the net.
After failing to make an impact against South Korea in A Selecao's final Group H match, Ronaldo was dropped to the bench by manager Fernando Santos for the team's last 16 tie against Switzerland.
His replacement Goncalo Ramos went on to score a sublime hat-trick and provide an assist as Portugal ran riot in the 6-1 victory over their European counterparts.
The former Real Madrid striker was subsequently benched again for Portugal's quarter-final against Morocco, but the tie brought a different result this time as the north Africans produced a surprise 1-0 win to send Santos' men packing.
The ex-Juventus talisman came on as a substitute in that game when his nation were a goal down, but made little impact in his second-half cameo as he exited the tournament in tears.
While he did become the first player to score at five different World Cups while in Qatar, Lothar Matthaus, who won the showpiece with West Germany in 1990, has since insisted that Ronaldo's performances in the Middle East have tainted his reputation.
"Cristiano Ronaldo is, of course, the big flop of this World Cup, the opposite of [Lionel] Messi," the 61-year-old told BILD.
"He has damaged the team and himself with his ego trip.
"He was once a great footballer, a world-class goalscorer.
"Now he has permanently damaged this monument.
"I can't imagine him finding another club.
"Somehow I feel sorry for Ronaldo."
Read: Messi confirms Argentina future
Speculation over Ronaldo's club future remains rife, with rumours suggesting a move to Saudi Arabia could still be on the cards.
You must be SIGNED IN to read and post comments.
WATCH: FANS WEIGH IN ON RONALDO'S ROLE AT THE WORLD CUP IN QATAR