Portugal's Ronaldo dilemma: Martinez must learn when to substitute his ageing star at the World Cup
By
Krishan Davis
Summary
The article discusses Portugal manager Roberto Martinez's decision to continue starting Cristiano Ronaldo at the World Cup despite the 41-year-old's poor performance in the opening match against DR Congo. While the author argues Portugal doesn't need to drop Ronaldo entirely, Martinez must learn when to substitute his ageing talisman during matches to avoid negative impacts on the team's performance and prevent another World Cup disappointment.
Source
Twitter / XPortugal's Ronaldo dilemma: Martinez must learn when to substitute his ageing star at the World Cupgoal.comKey quotes
· 3 pulledInexplicably left on the pitch for the full 90 minutes against DR Congo by Martinez, the 41-year-old mustered just three shots all game long, and none of them were on target.
Portugal don't NEED to drop Cristiano Ronaldo - but Roberto Martinez must learn when to axe his superstar or risk more World Cup disappointment
Two of those were half-chances, but he could only skew the ball wide on both occasions from tricky pull-backs.
You might also wanna read
Verifying Device
Portugal World Cup Preview: Can a 41-Year-Old Cristiano Ronaldo Still Deliver?
A World Cup preview article focusing on Portugal's national team and Cristiano Ronaldo's role at age 41. The piece examines whether Ronaldo
Defector·15d ago
Roberto Martínez analyzes Portugal's 1-1 draw against DR Congo in 2026 World Cup opener
Portugal's national team coach Roberto Martínez analyzed the 1-1 draw against DR Congo in their 2026 World Cup opener. He noted Portugal sta
sapo.pt·6d ago
Ronaldo scores twice, becomes first man to score in six World Cups
Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice in Portugal's World Cup group stage match against Uzbekistan, becoming the first male player to score in six
thescore.com·9h ago
Cristiano Ronaldo Wins Nations League, Raises Questions About Manager's Future
Cristiano Ronaldo wins the Nations League with Portugal, defeating Spain's 17-year-old superstar Yamal. The victory raises questions about R
bbc.com·1y ago
Cristiano Ronaldo expresses confidence in Portugal's World Cup chances and his physical form ahead of 2026 tournament
Cristiano Ronaldo, in an interview before departing for the 2026 World Cup with the Portuguese national team, expresses optimism and confide
sapo.pt·11d agoComments
Sign in to join the conversation.
No comments yet. Be the first.