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Published 19:58 7 Jul 2016 BST
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Ronaldo has been painted as the villain and a hell of a lot of people were only too thrilled to go along with that.
Most of it is because he knows he's good. It's because he wants to win. It's even because he's vain and good-looking.
Lionel Messi is portrayed as the pure saviour to the evil that is Ronaldo and no-one ever wants to even talk about Pep Guardiola's revelations in Guillem Balague's book that he almost lost Messi (who was throwing strops in training and partying with Ronaldinho) because the Argentine wanted to be treated differently - because he should be. Because he's the best.
Imagine Ronaldo retired from international football at the age of 29 and cited not winning as the problem. Honestly, imagine that.
Being convicted for tax fraud seemed to get brushed aside very quickly too and that's alright, because none of that takes away from the genius that is Lionel Messi. Nobody appreciates him any less as a special, special footballer. For some reason, they do Ronaldo though. They appreciate his skill less because they like him less.
When he won the Champions League for Real Madrid, Ronnie Whelan was distraught.
He sounded openly annoyed that it set up for Ronaldo to be the hero. Listen to it in his voice. At the very moment the club football season has come to a thrilling close and the record-breaking Portuguese man scores the winner against their city rivals on the biggest stage, the RTÉ co-commentator sounds like he's done with football forever.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BMit-nw01_o
The fallout of course was focused on Ronaldo's decision to hit the fifth penalty and wanting to be the hero. It was focused on his lack of leadership and lack of selflessness and his lack of being a real man or a real team player. The fallout was pathetic.
So he comes into another international tournament with scrutiny and disdain hanging over him. He comes in and very few want to see him succeed.
Of course, in the end, he does.
Even before the game, he was ready for an appearance record.
https://twitter.com/UEFAEURO/status/750627315558805504
He's been knocking at the door with Portugal since 2004 and, when the opportunity presented itself maybe one last time, he banged the thing down with typical, incomprehensible power.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=53w4FsPgKJo
That goal helped another record.
https://twitter.com/OptaJohan/status/750785974515408896
That goal also meant no-one has scored more than him.
https://twitter.com/OptaJoe/status/750782899520167937
No-one ever scores more than him.
And no-one has had such an effect for his country on the European stage as Cristiano Ronaldo has had.
https://twitter.com/OptaJohan/status/750796784860037120
Of course though, if he hits the fifth penalty again, there will be plenty of people out there trying to take it away from him.
But nothing should be taken away from this man.
He's earned his dues. He's earned our respect.

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