Portugal’s Ronaldo Dilemma: Can a Veteran Star Still Help, or Hurt, the Team?

Cristiano Ronaldo is heading toward the 2026 World Cup in a very different place than in past tournaments. The 41-year-old Al Nassr striker has finally won a title in Saudi Arabia, is closing in on 1,000 official goals, and could even play alongside his son. After years of arriving at major tournaments under pressure, he now comes in after what the article describes as a strong season and a more settled career stage.

The question for Portugal is whether he still fits. Ronaldo scored 28 goals in 30 matches this season despite a brief injury, and Al Nassr won its first Saudi title with him and teammate João Félix. He had nearly left in February, when he reportedly refused to play in an attempt to pressure the club and the Saudi Public Investment Fund, which controls four clubs. He stayed, returned with a burst of goals, and finished the season with a brace in the decisive match against Damac.

Portugal coach Roberto Martínez has publicly defended him, saying, “His finishing is better than ever,” and later, “I coach the Cristiano Ronaldo of 2026, not an iconic figure.” Martínez says Ronaldo’s movement, positioning and willingness to create space still help the team, even if he no longer presses or defends as he once did. The coach also used Ronaldo as a unifying figure after the team lost Diogo Jota in a car crash shortly after winning the Nations League.

The article argues that Portugal may not need Ronaldo to be its best player, since Bruno Fernandes and others may be better overall, but it still benefits from his gravity in the box. In Portugal’s Nations League run, he scored in wins over Germany and Spain and helped secure a third title with the national team, after Euro 2016 and the 2018/19 Nations League. The piece suggests that, unlike at the 2022 World Cup, Martínez may now be able to use Ronaldo as a finisher rather than build the whole team around him.