That headline would have been unthinkable to write at any point over the past two decades. Cristiano Ronaldo has unquestionably elevated Portugal to one of soccer's giants. He has now appeared in six different men's World Cups, and his 143 goals for Portugal are 96 more than the country's No. 2 scorer. Only three times in its history have Portugal even made the World Cup without Ronaldo, and two of those predate his second birthday.
But after Portugal's draw with the Democratic Republic of Congo, it has to be said. Ronaldo can't do this anymore, not for 90 minutes.
It would be one thing if Ronaldo had simply had a poor game in Houston. Even legends have off days, and Ronaldo is certainly entitled to several of them. But that was not it. Ronaldo was not even a mere passenger on the pitch. He actively cost Portugal the win.
In the 68th minute, Francisco Conceição came down the right side, with Ronaldo and Bruno Fernandes in the box. Conceição sent a ball into the box, set up perfectly for Fernandes to jam it home. But Ronaldo was in the path, and he got his foot to it first. The shot was nowhere near the target, and the reaction from the rest of the Portugal side was telling.
Conceição covered his face in anguish. Fernandes sank to his knees in despair. Portugal did not get a better chance at a match winner. And that falls on Ronaldo. Nobody wants to step on his toes, but the reality is that Portugal can't expect to advance very far with him playing this way.
Ronaldo's Mentality Doesn't Fit Where His Game Is Now
Almost every superstar has to face the moment when they are no longer the main weapon for their team. Ronaldo has been the guy for Portugal's men's team for nearly 20 years now, and he has only recently shown signs of decline.
His reputation is still elite. But his abilities are not what they were even a few years ago. That would be fine if he were willing to embrace a more appropriate role. Because of his career, Ronaldo still attracts heavy attention from opposing defenses. DR Congo knew it wanted to stop him, and with a roster that mostly plies its trade in England and France, it had the personnel to do so.
Portugal could use that to its advantage if Ronaldo is willing. On the play mentioned above, Ronaldo had two defenders shadowing him. He could have pulled away from the ball, taking the defenders with him and clearing space for Fernandes. But that is not his mindset, and that is why he has become a problem.
Ronaldo is always looking to score goals. Earlier in his career, when he could create magic, that meant Portugal was never out of a match. Now, it is a hindrance to the Portuguese attack. At this point, he must be willing to serve as a decoy and let other players shine. That has never been his role, and it is one he seems reluctant to embrace.
Ronaldo's Preparation Isn't Up to Par
A look at the contrast between DR Congo's roster and Ronaldo's recent career shows one of the biggest issues. Ronaldo has spent the past three years in what amounts to a retirement league.
The Saudi Pro League is Asia's top league. But it is a league of haves and have-nots, and Ronaldo does not see consistent competition. In 107 matches for Al-Nassr, he has scored 102 goals. That is a ridiculous number, and it shows he remains a gifted player.
But at the World Cup level, he is no longer a man among boys. He is facing defenders who can stay with him and deny him a clean touch, and Portugal does not have enough talent around him to change that.
None of that is Ronaldo's fault. If he can make $230 million a year dominating Saudi clubs, good for him. But it hurts him at the international level. He has not scored a goal at a major tournament in open play in five years now, largely because he no longer creates separation against the world’s best defenders the way he once did.
Portugal Doesn't Want to Disrespect Ronaldo
Younger players have a certain amount of deference to legends. This happens in almost every sport, as new players know who the top players have been before them. Joao Neves, Portugal's goal scorer against DR Congo, was three months shy of being born when Ronaldo scored his first goal at a major tournament for Portugal.
That is the real problem. Nobody is going to tell Ronaldo that he is no longer the player he once was, even if it costs Portugal the tournament. Coach Roberto Martinez has never been one to step on Ronaldo's toes, and none of his teammates have the standing to do it.
But Ronaldo was a shell of himself against DR Congo, and the opposition will only get tougher. If Portugal plays as it did in that match, it will lose to Colombia, and its tournament will come to a swift end.
Making the Tough Call
There is a way forward. Portugal needs to follow the path Germany took with Miroslav Klose. Klose came off the bench during the group stage before starting in the knockouts. He knew his skills were not what they had been a decade earlier, and he put winning the World Cup ahead of his own pride.
If Ronaldo is willing to do that, Portugal can make a run in this tournament. If not, Portugal's World Cup run is likely to end much sooner than it should.
If this was your kind of read, you’ll like what’s next. Get The Sandman Ticket, our free, weekly newsletter with picks, insights, and a little bit of everything we love about sports.
