Cristiano Ronaldo played all 3 matches of the 2026 World Cup group stage, but coach Roberto Martinez's decision to continuously use the 41-year-old star is causing much controversy.
In the 0-0 draw with Colombia, Ronaldo almost no longer had any influence in the last 30 minutes under the harsh hot and humid weather conditions in Miami. He finished the match with an expected goal score (xG) of only 0.17 and an expected assist (xA) of 0.03.
After the group stage, CR7 played enough 270 minutes, not including added time. This means that the former Real Madrid and Manchester United striker has almost not had a minute of rest before entering the knockout round.
However, coach Roberto Martinez still defended his decision: "Cristiano Ronaldo always knows how to appear at the right time. In terms of spirit and physique, he is very disciplined and strong. Ronaldo playing all 90 minutes is not a problem, because we have rotated up to 21 players throughout the group stage".
However, many opinions suggest that Martinez should manage Ronaldo's playing time more reasonably. In the second half of the match against Colombia, Ronaldo showed signs of physical decline but still played the full 90 minutes. Conversely, Goncalo Ramos - a 25-year-old PSG striker - was not given a chance.
Notably, many other stars were proactively given rest by the coaches to conserve their strength. Erling Haaland did not play in the match between Norway and France to prepare for the knockout round, while Lionel Messi was also kept on the bench by coach Lionel Scaloni in Argentina's last group stage match.
Even Kylian Mbappe or Ousmane Dembele were also proactively reduced by the French national team coaching staff at the 2026 World Cup. Similarly, Harry Kane - a striker who always wants to be on the field as long as possible - was also substituted by coach Thomas Tuchel in the final minutes of the victory over Panama.
Martinez said that comparing Ronaldo to other players is unnecessary: "We don't compare with players of other national teams. That's childish".
Portugal only finishing second in Group K after a draw with Colombia means they will have to face Croatia in the 1/16 round. If they advance, the next opponent is likely to be Spain.
In the context that knockout matches require higher intensity, Martinez will have to face the problem of using Ronaldo. The important thing is no longer the scoring ability of the 41-year-old superstar, but how to allocate reasonable playing time so that he maintains the best physical condition in the decisive stage of the 2026 World Cup.
We let the opponent control the match in the way they wanted, with many one-on-one situations and tackles. We should have controlled the ball better but made many inaccurate decisions. However, Portugal is a team that always knows how to look back and wants to improve" - the Portuguese national team captain added.
