This is your final open thread of the World Cup. Please use this for in-game discussion so as to avoid going off-topic on the comment sections of other articles. On a side note, we haven’t been able to churn out these open threads as much as we’d like to, particularly with the Ronaldo departure and some of the aftermath, but we have resources to create these threads regularly starting in August. We’ll do them for Champions League matches, big La Liga games, international breaks, etc.

Required reading, ICYMI

• My column on Ronaldo’s departure: Why now, and what’s next?
• Matt Wiltse, on the rationale of selling the greatest player in the history of the club
• Roundtable Ronaldo discussion with Om, Gabe, and myself on the latest Managing Madrid Podcast
• Sofi Serg’s illustrated poem about Ronaldo
• Om Arvind, on why Ronaldo chose Real Madrid and prevailed despite the odds and the legendary Barcelona team that stood in his way.
• My column on the long-term plan for Rodrygo, and how Real Madrid can integrate the Santos star into their future blueprint
• Lucas Navarette, on Real Madrid’s decision to sell Ronaldo, and why they were right

We’ll be recording a podcast tonight, to discuss the World Cup final and some more Ronaldo stuff. Feel free to hit us up with your questions on Twitter, Facebook, or Patreon.