A team once hailed for its potential now faces a pivotal question: What has changed for Portugal since the 2022 World Cup leading into the 2026 World Cup?
Cristiano Ronaldo’s underwhelming performance in the recent 1-1 draw against Congo DR has reignited the debate over whether one of football’s all-time greats should remain a starter at 41.
This situation is not new. The concerns surrounding Portugal’s coach, Roberto Martinez, echo the frustrations experienced by his predecessor, Fernando Santos, during the Qatar tournament four years ago. Ultimately, after group stage play, Santos opted to bench Ronaldo, yet Martinez has thus far chosen to keep him in the lineup.
Many fans are bewildered by how we ended up here. The 2022 World Cup was expected to mark a turning point, as Ronaldo, then 37, seemed out of sync. His exclusion from the knockout matches against Switzerland and Morocco was surprising but justified.
After Qatar, Santos was replaced by Martinez, while Ronaldo transitioned to Saudi Arabia, signing with Al Nassr following a contentious departure from Manchester United. Many believed this marked the end of Ronaldo’s time as Portugal’s face, but that transformation has yet to materialize.
There was no dramatic announcement from Ronaldo. Martinez has included him in his squads, mirroring Santos’s approach. Now, four years later, during what many expected to be Ronaldo’s final World Cup, the same questions arise, with the same urgency.
Martinez appears even more resolute than Santos in believing that Ronaldo can still start at this level. Weeks before the Qatar World Cup, Santos and his team contemplated using Ronaldo as a substitute in certain matches. Conversely, from the perspective of Martinez, there seems to be no such deliberation. He is growing weary of the ongoing inquiries.
The Spanish manager is well-liked in the football community, but persistent questions regarding Ronaldo’s role can sometimes test his patience. When probed about Ronaldo’s capability to maintain a starting position ahead of Euro 2024, Martinez responded with a question.
“Do you know how many minutes Cristiano played for Al Nassr last season?” he asked.
When the reporter confirmed that he had started every match, Martinez grinned. “You’ve answered your own question,” he replied.
Martinez is aware of the fact that media inquiries will constantly center around Ronaldo. He often uses statistics to support his decisions.
“Having a player with 25 goals in the last 30 games for the national team is a blessing,” Martinez remarked in February.
Ronaldo topped the scoring charts in the 2024-25 Nations League, leading Portugal to victory and scoring pivotal goals in the semifinal against Germany and the final against Spain. His domestic performance is also noteworthy, netting 30 goals in 37 appearances for Al Nassr last season, following up a strong season prior with 35 goals in 41 games.
However, some skeptics argue that the Saudi Pro League lacks the competitive strength of Europe’s top leagues, undermining his accomplishments. Additionally, Ronaldo has not scored in open play at a major tournament since June 2021.
For Martinez, though, statistics speak volumes. When questioned about keeping Ronaldo on the field against Congo DR, he cited the player’s scoring ability: “It makes no sense to take out the best goal scorer in world football when goals are needed,” he stated.
To some supporters, Ronaldo can do no wrong, while others are puzzled by Martinez’s firm stance, speculating that the coach may want to remain in Ronaldo’s good graces because of a potential future role at Al Nassr after the World Cup.
In the game against Congo DR, Ronaldo had only 29 touches, three shots, and failed to hit the target. His performance was criticized by former Arsenal striker Thierry Henry, who highlighted a moment when Ronaldo missed a better-scoring opportunity for teammate Bruno Fernandes.
Henry remarked, “The team needs to score, not you need to score,” implying that Ronaldo’s focus was too individualistic rather than team-oriented.
Former teammate Paul Scholes was even more critical, stating, “At 41, a player like him should only be starting in goal.”
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Portugal’s Dalot promises criticism won’t faze Cristiano Ronaldo
The looming concern for Portugal—boasting what could be the best midfield in the World Cup and expected to be serious contenders—is that the ongoing discussions surrounding Ronaldo become a major distraction. The majority of the squad is accustomed to this dynamic, yet Martinez took proactive steps to prepare the team before the tournament.
“With a squad this talented, especially with a player like Cristiano, we need to be extra prepared,” full-back Diogo Dalot remarked on Saturday.
“The pre-World Cup discussions helped us brace for these moments, ensuring that when challenges arose, we could convey that our group is resilient. We anticipated this, and facing difficulties early allows us to move past them more quickly.”
Ultimately, the issue won’t dissipate until Ronaldo either starts scoring again or clearly demonstrates that he is an asset to Portugal’s exceptionally talented squad.
Portugal will face Uzbekistan in Houston on Tuesday, where Ronaldo aims to break his streak of 10 goalless games at major tournaments. Should he struggle once more, the scrutiny on his starting role will only intensify.