Four years later, same debate for Portugal: Why is...
Key takeaways
- The questions facing Portugal coach Roberto Martinez are the same ones that began to irk his predecessor, Fernando Santos, in Qatar four years ago.
- How we got here is a mystery to many Portugal fans.
- Shortly after Qatar, Santos was replaced by Martinez, and Ronaldo departed Europe's top leagues for Saudi Arabia, signing for Al Nassr after a bitter falling-out with Manchester United.
Why this matters: a sports story that could shift standings, legacies, or fan conversations.
Cristiano Ronaldo's limp display in the 1-1 draw with Congo DR on Wednesday has thrown more fuel on the fiery debate about whether one of the world's greatest players should still be starting games at major tournaments at 41.
It's nothing new. The questions facing Portugal coach Roberto Martinez are the same ones that began to irk his predecessor, Fernando Santos, in Qatar four years ago. In the end, Santos dropped Ronaldo after the group games. So far, Martinez is sticking with him.
How we got here is a mystery to many Portugal fans. The 2022 World Cup was supposed to be the end of this. Ronaldo, then 37, looked off the pace, and though it was shocking when he was benched for knockout ties against Switzerland and Morocco, there was clear reasoning behind it.