Cristiano Ronaldo Insists on Playing Season Finale to Clinch Golden Boot Amid Fan Concerns
Cristiano Ronaldo is determined to feature in Real Madrid’s final La Liga fixture against Espanyol this Sunday, with his eyes firmly set on securing the 2014 European Golden Boot.
The Portuguese star is currently tied with Liverpool’s Luis Suárez at 31 league goals each. With the prestigious scoring title at stake, Ronaldo has reportedly told club officials he wants to play, hoping to net at least once to edge ahead of his Premier League rival.
However, the decision has drawn sharp criticism from some observers and divided opinion among Real Madrid supporters. Many believe Ronaldo should rest ahead of the UEFA Champions League final against city rivals Atlético Madrid on May 24—a clash widely regarded as more significant than any individual accolade.
Concerns are heightened by the fact that the 29-year-old forward has only just returned from a thigh injury, raising fears that another appearance so soon could risk aggravating his condition. A recent survey conducted by Madrid-based fan site Defensa Central revealed that 49% of over 2,000 fans polled want Ronaldo to play only if he is fully fit. An additional 28% believe he should be benched entirely, leaving just 23% in favour of him taking the field regardless.
For Madridistas, the pursuit of “La Décima”—a long-coveted 10th Champions League title—clearly takes precedence over individual honours. Yet for Ronaldo, winning a third European Golden Boot would further cement his status as one of the game’s most prolific scorers.
Whether Carlo Ancelotti will grant his talisman the opportunity remains to be seen, but Ronaldo’s competitive fire shows no sign of cooling—even in the face of injury risk and fan hesitation.
