This site contains betting-related content and is intended for users aged 18 and over. By continuing, you confirm you are 18 years of age or older.
At 41, the legendary forward's defensive shortcomings could derail Portugal's first genuine World Cup chance despite his qualifying heroics
Portugal manager Roberto Martinez must make the most difficult decision in football history. Bench the greatest goalscorer the game has ever seen, or watch his team's World Cup dreams die in the knockout rounds.
European football expert Lars Sivertsen has delivered the warning Portugal fans Despite Cristiano Ronaldo's five goals in World Cup qualifying, his inability to press and defend could prove fatal when Portugal face elite opposition beyond the group stage.
The numbers tell a story Portugal cannot ignore. Zero goals at Euro 2024. Just one goal at the 2022 World Cup, against Ghana in the group stage. For a player who built his legend on delivering in the biggest moments, Ronaldo's recent tournament performances have become a liability.
Sivertsen pulls no punches in his assessment on Trans Europe Express:
The fact he was goalless at Euro 2024 and scored only once in Qatar gives strong indications that his time at the elite level has passed.
This isn't about disrespecting a legend. Ronaldo remains Portugal's all-time leading scorer with 143 international goals. He scored crucial goals against Spain and Germany in the Nations League finals just months ago. But World Cup knockout football demands something different.
Modern football's pressing requirements expose Ronaldo's greatest weakness. At 41, expecting him to track back and press is unrealistic. But as Sivertsen explains, carrying a passenger only works if that player is "a reliable game-changer" who "completely changes your chances".
The evidence suggests Ronaldo no longer meets that threshold against top opposition.
Portugal's Group K draw couldn't be kinder. Colombia, DR Congo, and Uzbekistan represent the softest landing possible for a seeded team. Ronaldo will likely score goals. The team will probably win the group. And that's precisely the problem.
Sivertsen identifies the danger:
I think it's possible he will score goals against the Democratic Republic of the Congo or Uzbekistan but when you reach the knockout stages and you're facing stronger opponents and you're going to need all ten outfield players to put a shift in.
Group stage success against weaker teams creates pressure to persist with a flawed approach. If Ronaldo scores twice against DR Congo, how does Martinez drop him for a Round of 16 clash against Germany or Brazil?
This isn't 2016 when Portugal lacked options. The current squad boasts exceptional attacking depth:
Each offers something Ronaldo cannot: relentless pressing, defensive work rate, and the legs to execute Martinez's tactical plan for 90 minutes.
Portugal currently trade at 14/1 to win the World Cup, making them sixth favourites. Those odds assume an optimal squad selection. But Ronaldo's inclusion fundamentally alters their prospects.
Bookmakers price teams based on their ceiling, not their floor. Portugal with a balanced, hard-working front three can compete with anyone. Portugal carrying a defensive liability cannot.
Consider the likely Round of 16 opponents. Teams like Germany, Spain, or Argentina will ruthlessly exploit any player who doesn't defend. In tight knockout matches decided by fine margins, one passenger can prove fatal.
Smart bettors should monitor team news closely. If Martinez confirms Ronaldo as a starter, Portugal's odds offer poor value. If he signals a bench role, those same odds could represent the bet of the tournament.
The difference between Portugal as genuine contenders and early-round casualties might simply be whether their manager has the courage to make the right decision.
Martinez has already confirmed Ronaldo will travel to his record-breaking sixth World Cup. The question isn't whether he makes the squad but whether sentiment overrules logic when selecting the starting eleven.
Portugal begin their campaign against Colombia in Houston on 17 June. By then, we'll know if Martinez has chosen glory over nostalgia. The stakes couldn't be higher. This golden generation may never get another chance to win the World Cup. Wasting it on misplaced loyalty would be the cruellest ending to Ronaldo's otherwise glorious international career.
Manager Roberto Martinez hasn't confirmed his starting eleven, but Ronaldo faces competition from younger forwards like Rafael Leao and Goncalo Ramos. At 41, Ronaldo's lack of defensive work rate makes him a tactical liability against stronger teams, though his experience and finishing ability mean he'll likely feature as a substitute if not starting.
Ronaldo failed to score at Euro 2024 and managed just one goal at the 2022 World Cup against Ghana. This marks a significant decline from his peak years, though he did score five goals in World Cup qualifying and found the net against Spain and Germany in the Nations League finals.
Portugal have excellent attacking options including Rafael Leao and Francisco Conceicao from Serie A, Chelsea's Pedro Neto, and PSG striker Goncalo Ramos. Joao Felix, who plays alongside Ronaldo at Al-Nassr, has scored 16 goals this season and offers another dynamic option.
Portugal are currently priced at 14/1 to win the World Cup, making them sixth favourites. These odds could offer poor value if Ronaldo starts regularly, as his defensive limitations may be exposed in knockout matches against elite teams.
Portugal begin their World Cup campaign against Colombia on 17 June in Houston. They're in Group K alongside Colombia, DR Congo, and Uzbekistan, giving them a favourable path to the knockout stages.
No, Portugal have never won the World Cup despite their golden generation of players. Their best performance was reaching the semi-finals in 2006, Ronaldo's first tournament. They won the European Championship in 2016 and the Nations League, but the World Cup remains the missing trophy.
At 41 years old, the 2026 tournament will almost certainly be Ronaldo's final World Cup. This will be his record-breaking sixth appearance at the tournament, having first played in 2006. He'll be 41 when the tournament begins in June 2026.
Modern football requires all players to defend and press, especially in knockout matches. At 41, Ronaldo can't provide the defensive work rate needed against elite teams. European expert Lars Sivertsen warns that carrying a player who doesn't work off the ball only works if they're a game-changer, which Ronaldo's recent tournament record suggests he no longer is.
Cristiano Ronaldo scored five goals during Portugal's World Cup 2026 qualifying campaign. However, experts warn his defensive limitations could hurt Portugal in knockout matches against elite teams.
Ronaldo scored zero goals at Euro 2024 and just one goal at the 2022 World Cup against Ghana in the group stage. This decline in major tournament performance has raised concerns about his effectiveness against top opposition.
Portugal has been drawn in Group K alongside Colombia, DR Congo, and Uzbekistan. This is considered one of the easier group draws for a seeded team, which could mask potential knockout stage problems.
MatchdaySt Johnstone can clinch the Scottish Championship title and immediate Premiership return against Dunfermline on Tuesday, completing a remarkable turnaround after last season's relegation. The Perth club's dominance validates owner Adam Webb's patient approach and Simo Valakari's attacking philosophy, contrasting sharply with fellow relegated side Ross County's chaotic campaign.
The Rumour MillFlorentino Pérez is actively pursuing José Mourinho for a third stint at Real Madrid, viewing the Portuguese coach as the only manager capable of restoring discipline to a dressing room that has lost its way under Carlo Ancelotti. The potential reunion represents one of football's most dramatic reversals, with the man who left Madrid in chaos in 2013 now being courted as their saviour.
At 41 years old, Ronaldo's inability to press and defend creates tactical problems in modern football. Expert Lars Sivertsen warns that carrying a non-pressing player only works if they're a reliable game-changer, which recent tournament performances suggest Ronaldo may no longer be against elite opposition.
SportSignals is an independent publication. Views expressed are our own.
