Cristiano Ronaldo heads toward a record sixth World Cup with the argument around his place in Portugal no longer hidden away. He has 143 international goals and Roberto Martinez keeps backing him, but the team have also produced two of their biggest wins in this cycle without him. That is why the question now is less about reputation and more about selection.
Why Martinez still trusts Ronaldo
Martinez's position is simple enough. He says Ronaldo is there because he is still performing at a very high level, not because of what he achieved in the past. That matters because this is not a nostalgic call to arms, it is a coach selecting a 41-year-old who has delivered 25 goals in his past 31 games for Portugal.
There is also the long view. Ronaldo made his senior Portugal debut on 20 August 2003 in Chaves, in front of 8,000 fans, and now he is on course for a record sixth World Cup in 2026 alongside Lionel Messi and Guillermo Ochoa. His international total stands at 143, which still leaves him out on his own in men's international football.
Why the doubt will not go away
The pushback is not hard to find. Antonio Simoes said Ronaldo “doesn't play to win, he plays to be the main figure”, while Sofia Oliveira argued that he does not have the football any more to start for a side that wants to win the World Cup. She also made the sharper point, though, that Portugal have not really prepared for life without him.
The results give that argument some weight. Portugal's biggest win of the Martinez cycle without Ronaldo was the 9-0 drubbing of Luxembourg in Faro in September 2023, and the second-biggest was the 9-1 victory over Armenia in Porto last November. Martinez has still used Ronaldo in 31 of his 39 games in charge, so this is not a story about him being frozen out. It is about how much faith Portugal want to place in a player who remains decisive, but is also no longer untouchable.
Abel Xavier still sees Ronaldo as someone who understands big moments better than almost anyone in football, and Ricardo said that even if the speed is not quite the same, the technical and mental qualities remain enough to make him a devastating force. That is the tension Portugal have to live with now. The selection debate is real, and so is the evidence that they can function without him.
The opening of Portugal's campaign against DR Congo on 17 June will bring the question back immediately. If Ronaldo starts, Martinez is backing experience and output. If he does not, the door opens wider on a version of Portugal that has already put up two huge scorelines without him.
FAQ
Will Cristiano Ronaldo still start for Portugal at the 2026 World Cup?
Portugal's debate is open, not settled. Roberto Martinez says Ronaldo is still in the squad because he is performing at a very high level, while critics argue Portugal have already shown they can win big without him and should not start him.
Why are people questioning Cristiano Ronaldo's role for Portugal now?
Because Portugal have produced two of their biggest wins under Roberto Martinez without Ronaldo, including 9-0 against Luxembourg and 9-1 against Armenia. That has kept the selection debate alive even though Martinez has used him in 31 of his 39 games in charge.
How many international goals does Cristiano Ronaldo have before the World Cup?
Ronaldo has 143 international goals, the most in men's international football. He is also going to a record sixth World Cup in 2026, with eight World Cup goals already to his name.
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