Is Cristiano Ronaldo Slowing Portugal Down?

The Struggle of a Legend at the 2026 World Cup

Cristiano Ronaldo, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner, seemed more like a bystander than a driving force during Portugal’s lackluster opening match in the 2026 World Cup. At 41, Ronaldo claimed in 2025 that winning the World Cup wasn’t his dream and that not achieving it wouldn’t define his career. That last part rings true, given his unmatched influence on football history since he first stepped onto the pitch for Sporting CP in 2002.

His trophy cabinet is filled with club titles, and he led Portugal to their first major international victory at the 2016 European Championship, an achievement neither the golden generations of the 1960s nor the 2000s managed. Still, the World Cup remains elusive, and watching him barely impact the game against DR Congo felt bittersweet for fans of the star.

Ronaldo’s Fading Influence

In the 1-1 draw against DR Congo—celebrated as a win by the underdogs—Ronaldo played every minute but touched the ball only 25 times. His three shots were all off target, none threatening the goalkeeper, and he failed to create any scoring chances for teammates. One decent opportunity, a close-range shot after a pass from Francisco Conçeicão, might have been better left for Bruno Fernandes, who was in a better position.

This decline isn’t sudden. Ronaldo has struggled to find the net in major tournaments for some time. His World Cup goal tally is modest compared to Lionel Messi: 8 goals in 24 matches versus Messi’s 16 in 27, both starting in 2006. Currently, Ronaldo is enduring a drought of 10 consecutive World Cup or European Championship games without scoring. His last tournament goal came in Portugal’s opener against Ghana at the 2022 World Cup, where he was later sidelined during the knockout stage.

He still scores in qualifiers and Nations League matches but falls short when the stakes are highest. At this point, if Ronaldo doesn’t score, his impact on the pitch diminishes significantly, no longer the unstoppable force of his prime.

Playing in Saudi Arabia and Its Impact

Since early 2023, Ronaldo has played in the Saudi Pro League. While he boasts impressive numbers there—including 50 goals across all competitions in 2023–24 and 28 league goals in 30 appearances during 2025–26—the overall quality of the league doesn’t prepare him well for facing tougher international teams. The Saudi league might help extend his career, but it arguably inflates perceptions of his current abilities.

Against DR Congo, a team making its first World Cup appearance since 1974 with several players in Europe’s top leagues, Ronaldo found himself tightly marked. Despite a talented supporting cast featuring Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva, Vitinha, and João Neves, service to him was often blocked. His movement has slowed, making it harder to lose defenders and stay open, especially when the attack still revolves largely around him.

Portugal’s Next Steps Without Ronaldo?

Deciding to bench Ronaldo is a tough choice. Coach Fernando Santos tried it in 2022 but reversed the decision quickly. Tough calls sometimes make the biggest difference, much like Spain’s decision to drop Raúl after Euro 2008. Now that manager Roberto Martínez will step down after this World Cup, he might be willing to experiment more freely.

Portugal lacks many natural goal scorers besides Ronaldo. Gonçalo Ramos, 24, is the only other traditional striker on the roster. Once hailed as a rising star—he even outscored Ronaldo at the last World Cup—Ramos has seen limited action since joining Paris Saint-Germain and rarely played at Euro 2024.

Ramos could flourish in a system that lets him move fluidly, engage in build-up play, and create space for wingers and midfielders—something Ronaldo cannot do anymore. Portugal could also try a 'false nine' approach using players like Bernardo Silva, João Félix, or Rafael Leão to stretch defenses differently.

Portugal’s next match against Uzbekistan is expected to be a win, which would almost guarantee advancement to the knockout stage before their final group game against Colombia. But if Ronaldo remains central to the attack and plays as he did against DR Congo, the offense may struggle to produce significantly better results.