This module has greatly helped me understand the impact of the media on the public perception of athletes, especially in football. Through the analysis of the career of Ronaldo Luís Nazário de Lima, I have gained insights into the ways in which the perception of a footballer as a hero or a villain is what makes a footballer’s legacy. I learned that a player’s skill is only part of their reputation, with media portrayal and personality being equally influential.
During my reading, I noted that Sunderland (2014) presents many of the previous World Cup players as having a negative legacy based on how they behaved during their respective competitions; Diego Simeone and Mario Balotelli being examples of this unsportlike behavior therefore probably makes them villains. On the other hand, Rushin (1998) presents a totally different view of Ronaldo highlighting his heroic characteristics due to his specific actions and skills achieved on the field, in addition to his ability to inspire wonder for the people around him after making them smile through the achievement of the title “The Phenomenon” (Neymagic hd, 2023).
What I found most intriguing, however, was the fact that Ronaldo managed to maintain a positive and joyful image, even in the midst of such pressure and controversy, which often comes with the territory of being a high-profile player. I wonder if a player can redeem themselves if their actions are deemed unsportsmanlike. Can the “villains” of the soccer world actually redeem themselves, or do their actions forever define them?
From this module, I have come to understand the ways in which the media can shape an athlete’s image. The legacy of Ronaldo is an example of an athlete being seen in a positive light in terms of their ability, even in the face of controversy, and the ways in which athletes can use the media to shape perceptions of their relationships between their ability and their behavior.
References
Sunderland, T. (2014). Ranking the World Cup’s 25 Biggest Villains of All Time. Bleacherreport.com. https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2104984-ranking-the-world-cups-25-biggest-villains-of-all-time
Rushin, S. (1998). Joy to the World. Sports Illustrated Vault | SI.com. https://web.archive.org/web/20210625090708/https://vault.si.com/vault/1998/06/15/joy-to-the-world-no-one-else-plays-soccer-with-the-infectious-glee-of-ronaldo-the-nonpareil-striker-who-aims-to-lead-brazil-to-its-unprecedented-fifth-world-cup-title
Neymagic hd. (2023). Ronaldo Nazario ● Greatest Dribbling Skills & Goals Ever. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pyF2mK939aM
Leave a Reply