Cristiano Ronaldo needs to get real - his World Cup double is not the win he thinks it is

 The last time a superstar footballer said he was back - it didn’t end well. In one of the most infamous entrances of a footballing generation, Wayne Rooney strutted into the England camp in Baden Baden and declared, “the big man is back in town”.

The problem was, Rooney was only talking a good game. It was the 2006 World Cup in Germany and Rooney had returned from a trip back to Manchester for an MRI scan on his metatarsal.

But within a matter of weeks he was back in Manchester again, only this time nursing more than a sore foot. The so-called ‘Golden Generation’ had failed to shine again.

England had crashed out of the tournament to Portugal in the quarter finals. Which brings us neatly to Cristiano Ronaldo.

The latest superstar to declare he is about to change the narrative of his team’s bid to win a World Cup. Unlike Rooney three decades ago, Ronaldo hasn’t been injured. He’s just been mediocre.

That was until he demolished the might of Uzbekistan with two goals in his side’s five goal stroll. And then declared to the television cameras “I’m back I’m back”. What constitutes him being back remains to be seen. Because the Uzbekistan goalkeeper was so bad against Portugal, a pub team would have fancied its chances of scoring past him.

Yet the narrative surrounding Ronaldo has been flipped on its head. A narrative Ronaldo himself has started, with his latest interaction with a camera.

Yet some perspective, caution and calm is needed. Because, while some people would welcome having Ronaldo back to something like the footballer he once was, what happened in Houston changed little.

Ronaldo hasn’t taken down France in a World Cup final. And he hasn’t put on a masterclass in a game of great significance.

He has bullied a weak team and then crowed about it. He’s beaten Eusebio’s World Cup scoring record for Portugal in his sixth finals - when Eusebio only played in one of them.

He’s become the first player to score across six World Cups. But still has just nine in total. And how can he be back, if the critics shouldn’t have been doubting him in the first place?

Ronaldo’s reaction to scoring against Uzbekistan speaks volumes for where he is right now. Someone still wondering if his feet can still cash the cheques his brain continues to write.

But Ronaldo needs reminding that what he did in Houston doesn’t prove he isn’t a spent force. Being humble might be too much to ask.

But remaining realistic shouldn’t be. Because the largest dose of realism could still be waiting for him.