5 stars who have had a poor start to the 2016/17 season

5) Cristiano Ronaldo – Real Madrid

Ronaldo has had his worst start to a season since joining Real Madrid

The 2015/16 season ended on a good note for Cristiano Ronaldo. Champions League title, check. Euro 2016 title, check. UEFA Best Player in Europe Award, check! 51 goals for Real Madrid in 48 games and 3 goals at Euro 2016 had seen him assert his superiority even though age was beginning to catch up with the forward.

The injury in the final against France almost killed the dream that began in Euro 2004 when he was just an upcoming 19-year-old star. But with another trophy in his cabinet, the summer was reserved for rehabilitation.

But Ronaldo is such a physical specimen that he wasn’t sidelined for long. Scoring with literally his first touch of the season, it seemed like he was continuing from where he left off last season. However, that is all he has done in the league so far.

By his own lofty standards, this is his worst start to a season in La Liga ever since he made the then-record £80m move from Manchester United in 2009. Zinedine Zidane substituted him after a very poor performance against Las Palmas in the 2-2 draw claiming he needed him fresh for the Champions League. But in reality, it was a tactical change.

The Portuguese star no longer has the same blistering pace to beat defenders on the wing while he barely manages to complete more than a dribble per game nowadays. He may have reacted in frustration when he was substituted but he must realise that he is not bigger than the club and that he is far from playing at his peak.

Fortunately, Zidane realises that and even said: “I have to take him off sometimes. That isn't going to change what we are going to continue to do.”