Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo (AP Photo)

For more than two decades, Cristiano Ronaldo has built a career on proving people wrong.Every time critics questioned him, he responded with goals. Every time doubts surfaced about his longevity, he produced another record. From Manchester to Madrid, Turin to Riyadh, and throughout an extraordinary international career with Portugal, Ronaldo has repeatedly rewritten expectations.But after Portugal’s frustrating 1-1 draw against DR Congo in their opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, a debate that has lingered for years has returned with renewed intensity.At 41, Ronaldo remains Portugal’s captain, leader, and biggest global attraction. The question now is whether he remains Portugal’s most effective weapon on the pitch.The contrast with other football icons during the opening round of matches was striking. Less than a day after Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland all delivered multiple goals and helped their nations to convincing victories, Ronaldo completed the full 90 minutes against DR Congo without making a decisive impact.Portugal had started brilliantly. João Neves headed home an early opener after a dominant opening spell in which Roberto Martínez’s side controlled possession almost completely. Portugal’s dominance during the opening stages was overwhelming. In the six-minute sequence leading up to Neves’ goal, Martínez’s side completed 84 passes compared to just 12 by DR Congo. Yet what looked like the beginning of a comfortable victory gradually turned into a far more uncomfortable afternoon.DR Congo settled into the contest, grew in confidence and eventually found an equaliser through Yoane Wissa before half-time.

Portugal vs DR Congo match stats

By the final whistle, the statistics painted an uncomfortable picture for one of the tournament favourites. Despite enjoying the majority of possession, Portugal were second best in several key attacking metrics. DR Congo finished with eight shots to Portugal’s seven, produced two efforts on target compared to Portugal’s one and generated 0.82 expected goals against Portugal’s 0.64. For a team expected to challenge deep into the tournament, the numbers raised uncomfortable questions.Ronaldo’s individual numbers reflected that struggle.Making his sixth World Cup appearance, the veteran striker finished with just 25 touches, the second-fewest he has ever recorded in a World Cup start. He managed only three shot attempts, created no chances, completed two progressive carries and two progressive passes, won two aerial duels, attempted no ground duels and made just one ball recovery. He also offered virtually no defensive contribution. It was one of the least influential World Cup performances of his career.

Ronaldo’s World Cup legacy

Perhaps more concerning was how Portugal’s attack functioned around him.Ronaldo repeatedly drifted away from central areas in search of involvement. At times he moved into wide positions looking for space because he could no longer consistently gain physical advantages against younger defenders. The consequence was that Portugal often lacked a natural target inside the penalty area when crosses arrived.His first attempt on goal did not arrive until the 68th minute. Neither of his shots troubled the Congolese defence. Even two of Ronaldo’s three attempts illustrated a broader problem. Rather than threatening centrally inside the penalty area, he was frequently pushed into wider areas in search of space.Former Arsenal and France star Thierry Henry was among those who analysed Portugal’s attacking problems and pointed to a specific moment involving João Cancelo, Bruno Fernandes and Ronaldo.Speaking after the match, Henry stressed that team success must come before personal ambition.“One thing that’s important, people, please at home: the team needs to score, not you need to score,” he said.Henry then broke down a sequence in which he felt Ronaldo’s movement worked against Portugal rather than for them.“So, obviously, we’re going to see here Portugal being on the ball, Cancelo is going to receive the ball. Cristiano Ronaldo has been in this situation multiple times. If you make that run here, you – you make the defender take a decision to crash the six-yard box.”According to Henry, a run towards goal would have dragged defenders deeper and potentially created space for Bruno Fernandes to finish.“But because he wants to score, he goes into the path of Bruno Fernandes. If he goes into that six-yard box, you’ve been in that situation, I’ll see – you would have had to follow him, follow him, and then he would have been a tap-in for Bruno Fernandes. But because he wants to score, he goes into the path of the back pass. You see both players, and it’s easier for you to defend.”The concern was not simply that Ronaldo failed to score. It was how little he influenced Portugal’s attacking rhythm. Too often, attacks appeared designed to find him regardless of whether a better option existed. When he drifted deeper, he frequently occupied spaces that could otherwise have been used by Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva or João Neves. While his movement occasionally created room for teammates, Portugal rarely looked fluid in the final third.The issue becomes even more pronounced because Ronaldo is no longer compensating for those tactical compromises with goals in football’s biggest tournaments.

The drought that won’t go away

Since converting a penalty against Ghana during the 2022 World Cup, he has now gone ten consecutive matches across World Cups and European Championships without finding the net. The drought has stretched beyond 800 minutes, and it has been nearly five years since his last open-play goal in either competition.The contrast with his overall record remains striking. Ronaldo scored in both the semi-final and final as Portugal lifted the UEFA Nations League last summer and continues to score regularly in club football and qualifying matches. Yet at the highest international level, the goals have become increasingly difficult to find.There is no questioning what Ronaldo has achieved for Portugal. His influence helped deliver major international trophies and countless memorable moments across two decades.Yet the reality of 2026 is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore.

Portugal with vs without Ronaldo

The numbers surrounding Portugal’s attack are equally revealing. Across Portugal’s last four major tournament matches, Ronaldo has played 396 of a possible 420 minutes, yet the team has scored only once. Over the past two years in all competitions, Portugal have averaged 1.9 goals per game when Ronaldo starts compared to 2.8 goals per game when he does not. While one statistic alone does not tell the full story, it inevitably fuels the debate over whether Portugal’s attack functions more effectively without its captain.

When Ronaldo scores, Portugal rarely lose

Ronaldo’s supporters, however, can point to another compelling statistic. Since his first World Cup appearance in 2006, Portugal have a record of five wins, one draw and no defeats in major tournaments when Ronaldo scores. When he fails to find the net, that record drops to five wins, five draws and seven defeats. Few players in international football history have had such a direct correlation with their team’s success.Yet dropping him is far easier to discuss than to execute.Roberto Martínez faces a delicate balancing act. Gonçalo Ramos remains the obvious alternative but relies heavily on service. A false-nine system involving Bruno Fernandes or João Félix could provide greater fluidity but would introduce new tactical questions.There is also the psychological dimension. Few managers willingly bench one of the greatest footballers in history, particularly a player who still commands enormous respect within the dressing room.Perhaps the answer lies somewhere in the middle.Ronaldo’s experience, leadership and finishing instincts remain valuable assets. However, asking him to carry Portugal’s attack for 90 minutes against elite opposition appears increasingly unrealistic. A more carefully managed role, potentially as an impact substitute against tiring defenders, could allow Portugal to benefit from his strengths while minimising his physical limitations.

From Germany 2006 to USA 2026

The concern for Portugal is that there appears to be no genuine Plan B. Martínez has consistently backed Ronaldo even as questions over his role have grown louder. During Euro 2024, the Portugal coach substituted him in only one of his five appearances. Against DR Congo, creative players including Bernardo Silva, Pedro Neto, Nuno Mendes and Vitinha were all withdrawn, yet Ronaldo remained on the pitch. Even when Gonçalo Ramos was introduced in the closing stages, it was a midfielder who made way rather than the captain.The upcoming match against Uzbekistan may now define both Portugal’s tournament and Ronaldo’s role within it.A strong performance and a goal could temporarily silence the debate, as Ronaldo has done countless times before. Another ineffective display, however, will only intensify scrutiny of Martínez’s decisions and Portugal’s dependence on a player who remains legendary but no longer appears untouchable.For years, the question surrounding Cristiano Ronaldo was whether Portugal could win because of him.In 2026, the more uncomfortable question may be whether Portugal can afford not to evolve beyond him.