0.46 Expected Goals?! Cristiano Ronaldo's Woes Are Getting Hard to Ignore for Portugal

Alright, fam, can we just talk about what's happening with Portugal right now? Because what we're seeing on the pitch is mind-boggling. It's no secret anymore, in fact, it's been screaming at us for years: Cristiano Ronaldo, despite all the hype, is actually making Portugal worse. Like, a full-on anchor dragging them down. And the real question? Why in the world is Roberto Martinez still starting him? Seriously, the rest of the world has seen this train wreck coming from a mile away, but folks inside Portugal seem to be living in a different universe.

Seriously, The Numbers Don't Lie

Look, I get it, he's a legend. We all know that. But when it comes to the games that *really* matter, Ronaldo is becoming a massive liability for his country. Over the last three major tournaments, this dude has scored ONE goal. You heard that right, *one*. And it was a penalty kick back in the 2022 World Cup opener against Ghana. ONE goal! He's 41 years old now, the second-oldest outfield player in World Cup history behind Roger Milla. Yeah, he can still boss weaker teams in qualifiers and friendlies, and his online army will absolutely tell you he scored in the quarterfinals, semifinals, and final when Portugal won the Nations League last season. But let's be real, can you even remember who he scored against in that? Exactly. That competition just doesn't hit the same. Ruben Dias tried to defend his captain, saying the criti

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cism isn't just for one player and everyone's under scrutiny. He even said nothing out of the ordinary is happening and it's always been this way. But outside observers? We've seen glimpses of a Portugal team without Ronaldo in major tournaments, and while they're not perfect, they have a ridiculously high ceiling. With him? Not so much.

The DR Congo Game Was a Wake-Up Call

If you needed any more proof, just look at the 1-1 draw against DR Congo to open up the tournament. It was wild. Ronaldo was somehow a complete passenger AND the most important player on the field for his side. Portugal took seven shots in that game. Guess how many were Ronaldo's? THREE of them! And get this, his shots accounted for a paltry 0.46 of Portugal's even more meagre 0.65 expected goals. That's just... oof. It gets worse. Martinez's side launched 26 crosses in that opener, and exactly HALF of them were aimed straight at Ronaldo. Thierry Henry even pointed out a glaring opening for Portugal that just evaporated because everything had to funnel through the No. 7. It’s like the whole offense is designed to get the ball to a guy who isn't delivering when it truly counts. So, what's next? Portugal is up against Uzbekistan, and Martinez has a massive decision to make. Can he finally pull the trigger and bench his superstar? Or will he keep letting the anchor drag them down, wasting the immense talent this squad clearly has? We've gotta see a change, because the potential of a Ronaldo-less Portugal is too high to keep ignoring.

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