Portugal: Roberto Martinez urged to drop Cristiano Ronaldo
British pundit Geoff Shreeves believes the Portuguese national team is more fluid and more mobile without Cristiano Ronaldo, and urges coach Roberto Martínez to rethink his starting eleven ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
Cristiano Ronaldo sous le maillot de Al Nassr @AFP
British pundit Geoff Shreeves thinks Roberto Martínez should now do without Cristiano Ronaldo in Portugal’s starting lineup. According to him, the Al Nassr forward no longer has the physical impact required at the highest level and no longer contributes enough to the collective.
Shreeves says the Seleção loses fluidity and mobility when the five-time Ballon d’Or winner, now 40 years old, starts matches. The all-time record holder for caps and goals for the national team, Ronaldo nevertheless posts extraordinary numbers: 143 goals and 46 assists in 226 appearances.
Suspended after his sending-off in the defeat to Ireland (0-2), the Portuguese captain did not take part in his side’s big win over Armenia (9-1) during the qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup. Appearing on the set of CBS Sports Golazo, Shreeves said that Portugal played better without its star: “This team presses high. He can no longer press, he doesn’t have the legs. We saw it at the 2022 World Cup when Fernando Santos put him on the bench and Gonçalo Ramos scored a hat-trick. It was time to turn the page.“
According to him, the current suspension could factor into the coach’s thinking: “If he receives a two-match ban and misses the World Cup opener, that could influence Martínez. I think they’re better without him. He remains an asset because of his aura, his personality, but the team is more dynamic when he doesn’t play.”
Cristiano Ronaldo announced that the 2026 World Cup will be the last of his international career. The Portuguese led his country to three major titles: Euro 2016, as well as the Nations Leagues in 2019 and 2025.