World Cup 2026: England vs Ghana – who will start for Thomas Tuchel’s side?
‘It’s like there may be one man who is way larger than the collective good’revealed at 16:44 BST
Portugal v Uzbekistan (Tue, 18:00 BST)
Marcus Alves
BBC Sport
Ronaldo has now gone 10 consecutive video games at main tournaments with out discovering the online since a penalty towards Ghana on the 2022 World Cup.
Against DR Congo he had three pictures – greater than every other participant – however did not hit the goal.
“Whenever people talk about Cristiano Ronaldo, it almost feels like Portugal are playing in Cristiano Ronaldo’s country,” stated Luis Aguilar, a pundit for SIC Noticias.
“It’s like there is one man who is far bigger than the collective good, and that it is more important for things to work for Cristiano Ronaldo than for the team, when that doesn’t have to be the case.
“Because the fact in the present day is that, in contrast to the comparability that’s usually made with Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo is just not the very best participant within the Portugal workforce. Messi remains to be the very best participant within the Argentina workforce.”
Despite his struggles in Portugal’s opener, the number seven remained on the pitch for the full 90 minutes.
Under coach Roberto Martinez, he has been subbed off 13 times across the 30 matches he started, but only once before the 60th minute – in the 5-0 win against Armenia in September 2025. As much as Martinez refuses to define Ronaldo as untouchable, the numbers paint a different picture.
“He’s not the answer and that alone makes him a part of the issue,” said A Bola executive director Luis Mateus.
“His targets used to make up for his lack of defensive contribution. Now he’s now not scoring and he’s affecting your entire assault. Mentally, as a result of his workforce-mates nonetheless wish to serve him even when there are higher choices, but additionally as a result of he has develop into one thing of a sq. peg in the entire attacking course of.
“He is on the pitch because of gratitude, not because of how he is playing.”
A latest ballot from the Zerozero web site discovered that 63% of the Portugal followers who voted don’t need him to start towards Uzbekistan.
