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Another major tournament has arrived, and once again, debate surrounds Portugal’s persistent reliance on Cristiano Ronaldo. The veteran forward’s subdued display in their World Cup opener against DR Congo has reignited the familiar question: should the 41-year-old still be starting for the Seleccao? While it’s unlikely that Roberto Martinez will make any drastic changes, he must learn when to take decisive action if Portugal are to avoid more heartbreak on the grand stage.

As other global superstars dazzled in the tournament’s opening matches, Ronaldo’s performance stood out for the wrong reasons. The Portuguese captain failed to register a single shot on target, marking a disappointing start for one of football’s greatest names.

Isolated up front, Portugal’s all-time leading scorer barely threatened as Martinez’s team were held to a frustrating draw by the underdog African side. The decision to keep Ronaldo on for the full 90 minutes drew significant criticism, especially given Portugal’s pre-tournament status as one of the favourites.

Nearly five years have passed since Ronaldo’s last open-play goal in a major tournament. Should he fail to deliver against debutants Uzbekistan on Tuesday, Martinez will face mounting scrutiny for his unwavering loyalty to his ageing superstar.

Miserable start

While the likes of Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe, Erling Haaland, and Harry Kane all made strong starts by scoring at least twice in their opening fixtures, Ronaldo endured a match to forget. Despite being left on for the entire game by Martinez, the 41-year-old managed only three attempts, none of which troubled the goalkeeper. Two of those efforts were half-chances that drifted wide from difficult angles.

The missed opportunities proved costly as Yoane Wissa’s first-half stoppage-time header earned DR Congo a shock draw. Ronaldo was particularly quiet in the second period, managing just nine touches. The lack of intervention from Martinez has faced strong backlash from fans and pundits alike.

'Makes no sense'

After the match, Martinez once again defended his captain, insisting his decision to keep Ronaldo on was justified. “It makes no sense to take off the best goal-scorer in world football in a game where you need goals,” he argued, before urging calm. “The World Cup is unpredictable. Argentina lost to Saudi Arabia in 2022 and went on to win the tournament. Spain did the same in 2010 after losing to Switzerland. Poor performances can still lead to glory — it’s part of the process.”

He added, “After we scored the opening goal, emotions affected us negatively. We stopped taking risks, stopped finding space, and didn’t reach the final third enough. It was more emotional than tactical. That’s part of the World Cup journey. Now we reflect and improve for the next game.”

Tournament drought

Martinez may call this an isolated incident, but Portugal’s dependence on an increasingly inconsistent Ronaldo has become a recurring issue. Despite scoring five goals in five qualifying appearances and helping secure a UEFA Nations League title last year, he has now gone 10 straight matches without a goal in major tournaments. His last came from the penalty spot against Ghana in the 2022 World Cup, while his last open-play strike dates back to Euro 2020 against France — almost five years ago.

Although he continues to score freely in Saudi Arabia and against lesser European opposition, Ronaldo has struggled to make a real impact on the biggest stage for quite some time.

Ideal sidekick?

One reason behind Martinez’s persistence may be Portugal’s limited options at centre-forward. There is only one other recognised striker in the squad. However, Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr teammate Joao Felix enters the tournament in exceptional form, having contributed to 45 goals last season, including 20 in the Saudi Pro League. The 24-year-old has been thriving as a second striker and will feel he deserves an opportunity.

If Martinez is comfortable selecting a 41-year-old playing in a lower-intensity league, there’s little reason to overlook the younger, sharper Felix. Yet, the former Chelsea man spent the entire match against DR Congo on the bench, a decision that has baffled many observers.

Ramos to the rescue?

Then there’s Goncalo Ramos, the other natural striker in the squad. He was introduced only in the 83rd minute of the opener in Houston, after Martinez had already turned to wingers Francisco Conceicao and Rafael Leao. Even after Ramos came on, Ronaldo remained on the field.

Ramos once appeared to be Ronaldo’s natural successor, particularly after scoring a hat-trick in Portugal’s 6-1 thrashing of Switzerland in the 2022 World Cup round of 16 — when then-coach Fernando Santos boldly started him ahead of Ronaldo. But since Martinez took charge following the Qatar exit, Ramos has been reduced to sporadic appearances, with the coach continually defending his reliance on Ronaldo.

As a result, Ramos’s progress has stalled both at club and international level. Since joining Paris Saint-Germain in 2023, he has rarely been a regular starter and has scored just six goals for Portugal since that memorable night in Qatar.

Know when to act

It’s understandable that Martinez continues to start Ronaldo. The veteran remains in remarkable physical shape and scored 30 goals for Al-Nassr last season. However, the coach must learn when to make timely substitutions, even if it means upsetting his captain. Against DR Congo, Ronaldo faded badly in the second half as Portugal struggled for creativity and service.

Even if he still has a decisive moment left in him — perhaps from the penalty spot — keeping him on for the full 90 minutes is no longer a necessity. Players like Felix and Ramos exist precisely for these situations, to inject fresh energy and find a breakthrough when needed.

If Ronaldo cannot end his tournament goal drought against Uzbekistan, the calls for change will only grow louder — and Martinez’s refusal to adapt could once again cost Portugal dearly.