Ronaldo’s Role in Portugal’s World Cup Journey Questioned

Two statements can coexist.

First: Cristiano Ronaldo ranks among the greatest soccer players in history, known for his incredible performances over two decades across Europe and now in Saudi Arabia.

Second: He could be hindering Portugal’s pursuit of a World Cup victory.

On Wednesday, during a night when Lionel Messi scored a hat trick against Algeria, Ronaldo tried hard to score but failed to net a goal.

Towards the end of the match, an awkward moment occurred when coach Roberto Martínez chose to substitute Vitinha, a 26-year-old key midfielder, but left the 41-year-old Ronaldo on the field without any impact.

Portugal was anticipated to secure an easy win over DR Congo but faced challenges, with the African team displaying more potent attacking plays. The result was a 1-1 draw, with Congo creating more threatening opportunities and leading in expected goals.

Portugal’s performance was notably poor. Although Ronaldo was largely ineffective, the entire team shares the responsibility. The team appeared lackluster after their early header goal. They executed over 700 passes with a 92% accuracy rate, but most lacked any offensive strategy.

If Portugal aims to excel in a game focused on possession, they might be prepared for the World Cup. However, in this tournament where teams are playing decisively and superstars are excelling, Portugal requires a quick solution.

It’s uncertain if Ronaldo is part of that solution.