World Cup becomes cult of the individual but ignores team complexity | Jonathan Liew

The irony of the superstar-heavy narrative is the way it embellishes rather than diminishes importance of the collective“Cristiano Ronaldo’s record-equalling sixth World Cup got off to a disappointing start,” began the Reuters match report of Portugal’s 1-1 draw against the Democratic Republic of the Congo last week. And yes, OK: everyone knows how this game works and why everyone plays it. On one hand, perhaps the greatest sporting day in the history of the world’s 15th most populous country. On the other, 41-year-old man does not score. It’s no contest,…