The 41-Year-Old Ronaldo Is Portugal's Anchor and Roberto Martinez Has No Answer

Okay, let's be real. It's time someone said it out loud. We all know Cristiano Ronaldo is a legend, a titan of the sport, but right now, his presence on the pitch for Portugal is straight-up holding them back. It's not "if" he's making them worse anymore, it's "why" manager Roberto Martinez hasn't pulled the trigger on a change that feels so obvious to everyone outside the squad. This isn't some hot take, folks, this is the cold, hard truth impacting their World Cup dreams.

The Numbers Don't Lie

We've seen it for years, right? This isn't a new problem. Ronaldo, at 41 years old, is the second-oldest outfield player in World Cup history, second only to Roger Milla. In the last three major tournaments, this superstar has only notched one single goal, a penalty kick way back in their 2022 World Cup opener against Ghana. Sure, he still bosses up against weaker teams in qualifiers and friendlies, and his online army will scream about his goals in the Nations League finals last season, but let's be honest, can any of us even remember who he scored those against? When the lights are brightest, in the games that actually matter, Ronaldo is a total drag on Portugal. Just look at their 1-1 draw with DR Congo to open this tournament. The guy was simultaneously a passenger and somehow the most critical player for them. Out of Portugal's measly seven shots, Ronaldo took three of them! Tha

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t accounted for 0.46 of a tiny 0.65 expected goals. And get this: according to Gradient Sports, Martinez's side fired off 26 crosses, and HALF of them were aimed right at Ronaldo. It’s like they're forcing it, even when it’s not working. Thierry Henry even called out a particularly telling missed opening on the broadcast. This can’t keep happening.

Why Won't Martinez Make The Call?

You hear the defensive takes, of course. Ruben Dias, their captain, just gave a firm defense of Ronaldo before their upcoming game against Uzbekistan, saying the criticism isn't just about one player, that everyone's under scrutiny. He even suggested this has been the norm forever, nothing new. But is that really it? Or is Ronaldo's massive star power actually overshadowing bigger issues for the team, problems that only really surface when he's *not* out there? We've only had fleeting glimpses of a Ronaldo-less Portugal at big tournaments, but those moments hinted at a team with serious potential, an imperfect squad with a very high ceiling. When Ronaldo's on the pitch, though? The evidence is piling up, and little of it paints a pretty picture for Portugal's chances. So, what's next? Portugal is facing Uzbekistan, and you just gotta wonder if Martinez will finally make the tough call everyone else sees. Their World Cup hopes are on the line, and sticking with the status quo feels like a recipe for heartbreak. We're all just hoping to see that high ceiling Portugal can reach, you know?

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.