Cristiano Ronaldo has proven himself as one of the best of all-time but his light is fading fast, writes WADE PRETORIUS.

Marking his 128th cap for Portugal against Austria, the 31-year-old failed when his team needed him most. His 80th minute penalty miss summed up where he is right now … someway off his best and getting worse.

His Euro 2016 ‘contribution’ to date is 20 shots; four which have been on target and that penalty miss as Portugal struggle their way through the group stage. The Real Madrid kingpin continues to look lethargic and uninterested and helpless to assist his nation when it matters most. He continues to epitomise what his detractors have long said about him, he plays for the name on the back of his shirt rather than the badge on the front.

Across the pond, Ronaldo’s arch-rival Lionel Messi continues to headline Argentina’s attack in their Copa America; against Venezuela he scored two and made one for Gonzalo Higuian.

His national tally of 54 now equals Gabriel Batistuta and with two games to go, he could easily end the tournament with a trophy and the title of his country’s leading scorer. Messi continues to carry the burden of leading Argentina and does so with aplomb, Ronaldo the opposite.

Give Messi 20 chances against the likes of Iceland and Austria and I seriously doubt that his goal return would match Ronaldo’s Euro 2016 ‘efforts’.

This is not the first time that CR7 has been accused of not delivering when he is needed. Granted he has another Champions League medal in his trophy room but that has little to do with his personal efforts.  He was a glorified spectator in both the semi-final and the final and has had the best seat in the house at two Euro 2016 matches so far.

One wonders whether his antics off the field are a way of distracting the world from his performances on it. They have nothing short of woeful. It appears he refuses to alter his playing style when in the maroon shirt of his jersey, failing to recognise that moaning on the edge of the penalty area matters for little in international football or that he does not have Luka Modric, Gareth Bale and Co. to deliver him goals on a platter.

Ronaldo has touched the ball just 9 times in his own half in France. Is he too good to drop deep and help create play for his teammates when neither side is separated on the scoreboard? Would Messi behave like that? I doubt it.

Enjoy Ronaldo while you still can, he won’t be around forever.