41-Year-Old Cristiano Ronaldo Is Portugal's World Cup Anchor, And Roberto Martinez Is Trapping Themselves

Alright, Emerald City, can we talk about what in the actual heck is happening at the World Cup with Portugal? We are all watching, scratching our heads. Cristiano Ronaldo, the legend, is out there, still starting, and honestly? He is becoming an anchor on Portugal's World Cup hopes, not a superstar. Everyone outside the locker room sees it, but Roberto Martinez, their coach, is stuck in a time warp. It has passed the point where Ronaldo making Portugal worse is even noteworthy. The real question is why Martinez has not made a change that so many have known is a necessity for years.

The Crushing Numbers Don't Lie About Ronaldo's Impact

You bleed green and blue like I do, so you know when a player is hurting the team, even a legend. Ronaldo, at 41, is the second-oldest outfield player in World Cup history, only behind Cameroon's Roger Milla. Get this: in the last three major tournaments, he has scored a grand total of one goal. One! And it was a penalty, back in his country's 2022 World Cup opener against Ghana. Sure, his vocal online supporters bring up his Nations League goals last season, but let's be real, who even remembers who those were against? In the games that truly matter, Ronaldo is straight up a drag on Portugal.

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We saw it plain as day in the 1-1 draw with DR Congo to open this tournament. The guy was simultaneously a passenger and the most important player on the pitch for Portugal. Think about this: of the measly seven shots Portugal managed, three came from Ronaldo. He accounted for 0.46 of a meager 0.65 expected goals. It is no surprise that so much of their shooting form was tied to the No. 7, because Martinez's side aimed half of their 26 crosses during that opener directly at Ronaldo. Or maybe he just made sure he was the target. Thierry Henry even highlighted a particularly telling opening on Fox's World Cup broadcast, hinting at the issue.

The Truth Hides Behind Locker Room Bluster

You want to know Portugal's internal defense? Ahead of their game against Uzbekistan, Ruben Dias offered a firm defense of his captain. He said, "The criticism isn't directed at just one player. Cris is a major focus, but everyone is under scrutiny at a moment like this. I don't think anything out of the ordinary is happening, it has been this way ever since I have been here, it will continue to be, so it is nothing new." He might be right that the team is under scrutiny, but this isn't "nothing new" for Portugal's ceiling. Glimpses of a Ronaldo-less Portugal at major tournaments hint at an imperfect team with a very high ceiling, a team that could actually contend if they weren't shackled.

This whole situation makes you wonder: is Ronaldo, who has at times threatened to completely overshadow his team, actually blocking out other issues that only show up when he is not there? Because right now, what we are seeing with him on the pitch is not good for Portugal's World Cup run. Martinez has got to make a choice for the team, or this promising squad will crash and burn.

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