Soccer
Is Ronaldo holding Portugal back?
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There was a time when asking whether Cristiano Ronaldo was holding Portugal back would have bordered on sacrilege. For nearly two decades, the question was the opposite: where would Portugal be without him?
Now, at 41, it is becoming harder to ignore.
Roberto Martinez has kept faith with his captain throughout the group stage, leaving Ronaldo on the pitch for all 270 minutes.
The rewards have been mixed. His superb brace in the 5-0 demolition of Uzbekistan reminded everyone that his finishing instincts remain as sharp as ever, making him the first man to score at six different World Cups. Yet outside that emphatic victory, Ronaldo has looked every bit his age.
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Portugal stumbled to draws against DR Congo and Colombia either side of easing past Uzbekistan, finishing second in Group K rather than topping it. The uncomfortable truth is that much of their attacking play has felt laboured, with too many moves ending in hopeful crosses towards a striker who no longer consistently creates separation from defenders.
That is not to say Ronaldo has become a poor footballer. Far from it. His movement inside the penalty area remains intelligent, he still occupies centre-backs and, given the right service, he remains capable of punishing opponents. The problem is that Portugal increasingly seem to shape their attack around what Ronaldo was rather than what he is.
This is a squad blessed with technical quality. Bruno Fernandes remains one of Europe's finest creators, Vitinha dictates tempo superbly, Joao Neves offers relentless energy and Rafael Leao can unsettle any defence. Yet too often their attacking patterns slow as teammates search for Ronaldo instead of exploiting the variety of options around him.
Charlotte Wilson / Stringer
Martinez's dilemma is obvious.
Dropping Portugal's greatest-ever player would be one of the boldest decisions made by any coach at this World Cup, and there is no guarantee it would improve the team. Goncalo Ramos is the most natural alternative as a conventional No.9, but he has never convinced as Ronaldo's long-term successor. Joao Felix offers greater fluidity but is not a traditional centre-forward, while Portugal lack another elite goalscorer ready to inherit the role.
That shortage of alternatives explains why Ronaldo continues to start. It does not necessarily justify playing him every minute.
Managing his workload may now be as important as selecting him. Fresh legs from the bench could offer Ramos or Felix opportunities to stretch tiring defences, while allowing Ronaldo to preserve his energy for the moments that still define his career: those inside the penalty area.
Portugal remain capable of beating anyone on their day, but the knockout rounds demand ruthless decisions. Martinez's biggest may not be whether Ronaldo starts, but whether he finally accepts that even the greatest players have limits.
Because if Portugal are to make a serious run at this World Cup, sentiment cannot be allowed to trump reality.
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