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Portugal is a prisoner of politeness…and Martinez refuses to see the truth
Once again, the name of Cristiano Ronaldo returns to the forefront of the discussion at major tournaments, and Portugal again finds itself facing the same question that forces itself almost every two years.
Portugal’s 2026 World Cup campaign opener with a disappointing draw against the Democratic Republic of Congo was not only a surprising result for one of the title contenders, but it also re-opened the door to an old debate that has plagued Portuguese football for years.
While stars such as Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe, Erling Haaland and Harry Kane stole the limelight with their goals and decisive performances, Ronaldo came under fire after a lackluster display that raised many questions.
While Roberto Martinez still clings to his historic leader, growing indications are that the issue is no longer about whether or not to include Ronaldo, but rather knowing the right moment to intervene and make decisions in the best interests of the national team before other considerations. “Jules“.
A disappointing start creates a storm
The Portuguese national team entered the tournament surrounded by high expectations, backed by a diverse line-up of talented players. But what happened against the Democratic Republic of Congo was far from the picture that observers had painted for the team before the start of the competition.
Ronaldo was clearly suffering throughout the match and seemed isolated up front, unable to impose his presence or make a difference. For the entire ninety minutes, the veteran forward failed to put a single ball between the three sticks and managed just three attempts that lacked accuracy and efficiency.
Most controversially, Martinez insisted on keeping Ronaldo on the pitch until the final whistle, despite his significantly reduced influence and the need for different attacking solutions for the team to decipher the opposition’s defence.
As Portugal searched for the winning goal, their historic captain seemed out of touch and only touched the ball a couple of times in the second half, prompting many to question his viability throughout the match given the availability of other options on the bench.
Martinez sticks to his captaincy
As always, Roberto Martinez did not hesitate to defend his decision after the game, stressing that the presence of the best scorer in the history of the game remains logical when the team needs to score goals.
The Spanish coach tried to downplay the importance of the draw, citing the experience of big teams that have made poor starts to tournaments before winning the title, such as Argentina at the 2022 World Cup and Spain in 2010.
But these comparisons did not convince many, because the essence of the problem is not related to the result of just one game, but a question that has been constantly repeated with the Portuguese national team in recent years.
Arguments no longer revolve around Ronaldo’s historic value or his legendary status, which no one disputes, but rather the extent of his current ability to provide the same addition at the highest levels of international competition.
Worrying numbers
While Ronaldo still retains his goal-scoring instincts, as he showed during qualifiers or with Al-Nasr, the numbers in major tournaments paint a completely different picture. The Portuguese striker has gone ten consecutive matches without scoring in major tournaments, a number that is hard to ignore when assessing his current role.
As for his last World Cup or European Championship goal, it came from the penalty spot against Ghana at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, while the last goal he scored in an open game at a major tournament came against France at Euro 2020, nearly five years ago.
These numbers don’t necessarily mean that Ronaldo has lost his ability to score, but they do show a clear decline in his impact as the intensity of the competition increases and the difference between success and failure becomes a mere trifle. For a team aspiring to win the World Cup, relying on history alone may not be enough.
The real problem is that Portugal sometimes can’t seem to escape the shadow of its great legend. For more than two decades, the Portuguese national team has revolved around Ronaldo.
This made sense when a player was at his peak and had the ability to decide matches on his own. But time stands still for no one, and even the greatest players in the history of the game eventually reach a point where their role changes.
Great teams that have managed to reinvent themselves have always been able to make tough decisions at the right time. As for holding on to the past too long, it can become an obstacle that prevents the team from developing and benefiting from its new elements. This is exactly what many observers fear about Portugal today.
Joao Felix… card waiting for his chance
If Martinez believes Ronaldo still deserves his starting spot, it begs the question of the alternatives available.
The name that stands out here is Joao Felix, who arrived at the World Cup after a very impressive season with Al-Nasr, where he performed at remarkable levels and scored a large number of goals, exploiting his various roles behind the outspoken striker.
Félix has flexibility, vitality and the ability to move between the lines, elements that can give Portugal different attacking solutions when the going gets tough.
Therefore, it seemed strange to many that the footballer was left out of the calculations against the Democratic Republic of Congo, at a time when the team needed new ideas and a greater ability to penetrate the defense.
Perhaps no one is calling for Ronaldo to be removed completely, but giving Felix more space could be one solution that could balance the Portuguese attack.
Gonzalo Ramos…the caliph awaits the signal
There’s also Gonzalo Ramos, a name that years ago saw as Ronaldo’s natural heir as a straight forward.
The sight of his famous hat-trick against Switzerland at the 2022 World Cup is still fresh in the minds of Portuguese fans, when he took advantage of the best start to lead his country to a resounding victory.
But since the arrival of Martinez in technical charge, Ramos’ chances have clearly diminished and Ronaldo has returned to being the undisputed first choice.
This situation, in one way or another, affected the player’s international development and forced him to settle for secondary roles in most cases, despite his attacking qualities, which may be more suitable for some matches.
While Ramos does not have the historic status of Ronaldo, he has the advantage of youth, vitality and the ability to constantly press and move, elements that become increasingly important in a long and difficult tournament such as the World Cup.
The problem isn’t the beginning…it’s the end
In fact, Ronaldo in the starting line-up cannot be considered a wrong decision at all. The footballer scored 30 goals for Al-Nasr last season and so far possesses an exceptional sense of goal and invaluable experience. But the main problem is the management of the minutes, not the starting point.
Ronaldo is still capable of providing an addition at certain stages of a match, but he is no longer the player who can sustain the same impact over ninety minutes as he did in his golden years.
This is why there seems to be an urgent need for more flexible game management, allowing Martinez to step in when the circumstances call for it, rather than insisting that the captain be kept on the pitch regardless of his performance level. Teams competing for major titles base their decisions not on names, but on what happens inside the green rectangle.
The next match against Uzbekistan is a very sensitive time for Portugal. The Asian team is competing in its first World Cup and is considered a less formidable opponent than Portugal, making the clash an ideal opportunity to restore confidence and set the course.
But at the same time, it could turn into a difficult test if Ronaldo’s goal drought continues. If the Portuguese captain fails to score again or put in a convincing performance, the pressure on Martinez will be unprecedented and he may finally have to revise his accounts.
Ultimately, this is not about questioning the legend of Cristiano Ronaldo or belittling his historical legacy. What the footballer achieved with Portugal will live on in football’s memory for decades to come, and he is undoubtedly one of the greatest men to wear the national team shirt.
But major tournaments are not determined by the past, but by the present. Therefore, the real challenge for Roberto Martinez is not knowing if Ronaldo deserves to play or not, but rather knowing at what point he should give other options a chance when the game dictates it.
It’s a difficult balance between honoring history and serving the present, loyalty to a legend and looking out for the best interests of the national team. If Portugal are to realize their dream of winning the World Cup, their coach may finally have to learn that sometimes the biggest decisions are the hardest.
