Portugal entered the 2026 World Cup with a star-studded squad worth close to one billion euros, fresh from Manchester United midfielder Bruno Fernandes being named Premier League Player of the Year and Paris Saint-Germain trio Vitinha, Joao Neves and Nuno Mendes winning the Champions League for a second straight season. With Cristiano Ronaldo in what was described as his final tournament and a favorable opening against the Democratic Republic of Congo, Roberto Martinez was expected to deliver an emphatic start in Houston on June 23, 2026. Instead, Portugal drew 1-1 and looked stagnant despite 75% possession.
The article argues that Martinez was hired to replace Fernando Santos's pragmatic, defensive style with attractive, attacking football, but has instead turned possession into sterile control. Portugal kept trying to force attacks through the crowded middle rather than using width and pace, leaving Rafael Leao and Joao Felix on the bench while Vitinha, Neves and Fernandes piled up 218 touches in the first half alone. That figure fell to 109 in the second half as Congo sat deeper and Portugal's midfield became congested.
Former goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel said Martinez is among the tournament's biggest disappointments, accusing him of wasting Belgium's golden generation and now repeating the mistake with Portugal. He criticized the coach for leaving Leao and Felix out, calling the tactics too conservative, the attack uncreative and the substitutions too late to change games. The article also notes the painful comparison with Belgium, where Martinez previously managed stars such as Eden Hazard, Kevin De Bruyne, Dries Mertens and Romelu Lukaku without major success.
Ronaldo was central to the criticism. At 41, he had no shots on target and only 25 touches, raising questions about how much he can still influence games. Martinez defended keeping him on, saying, “There was no logic in taking Cristiano Ronaldo off when we were looking for goals.” Chris Sutton called that explanation “embarrassing,” arguing that Martinez is afraid to remove Ronaldo and is not truly in charge. The piece adds that French reports say Martinez is negotiating with Al-Nassr, which would heighten concerns about a conflict of interest if he were to work under Ronaldo at club level. Portugal now faces Uzbekistan in a critical match, with the coach under pressure to show he can make bold decisions and avoid repeating his Belgium failure.
