Ronaldo struggles as Portugal held, pundits question manager's decision

The 2026 World Cup has seen several footballing giants make their mark, with Kylian Mbappe, Erling Haaland, and Lionel Messi all scoring braces or hat-tricks in their opening games. However, Portugal’s captain, Cristiano Ronaldo, was unable to replicate their scoring heroics in his side’s opening group match against DR Congo.

Portugal was held to a 1-1 draw, with Ronaldo making a limited impact despite being on the field for the full 90 minutes. His performance drew criticism from some football commentators, who felt his influence on the game had waned.

Former striker Chris Sutton, on BBC Radio 5 Live, expressed surprise that manager Roberto Martinez did not substitute the 41-year-old. Sutton suggested that Martinez appeared “scared to take him off” and that “the game has passed him by today.”

Ronaldo, who has scored 143 goals for his country, registered only 25 touches, the fewest of any Portugal outfield player who completed the match. He had two notable chances in the second half, but both efforts went wide, extending his goalless streak in major tournaments to 10 consecutive games.

Wayne Rooney, Ronaldo’s former teammate at Manchester United, acknowledged his desire to succeed but noted that “What he needs is chances. If he gets good chances, he’ll score goals.”

Other pundits observed that Ronaldo’s positioning may have hindered potential scoring opportunities for teammates. Thierry Henry pointed out that Ronaldo’s run into the box potentially blocked a pass to a better-positioned Bruno Fernandes. Gael Clichy also suggested that the presence of a superstar like Ronaldo might unconsciously affect how teammates play, sometimes leading them to defer attacking options.

Despite these observations, Clichy conceded that such decisions often fall to the manager, who must balance the player’s potential to score with the overall flow and natural play of his team.

Source: Nile Post