Cristiano Ronaldo’s ability to lead Portugal’s attack at the 2026 FIFA World Cup has been questioned, with former Chelsea midfielder Craig Burley declaring that the team cannot be competitive with the 40-year-old forward at the helm.
Despite Portugal’s 5-2 comeback victory over Denmark in the UEFA Nations League quarter-finals, Burley insists Ronaldo is past his prime and that manager Roberto Martinez must make the tough call to drop him before the tournament in North America.
“Even if he gets the odd goal, the body of evidence is clear—at this level, he just can’t do it anymore. The last two major tournaments proved that,” Burley said in an interview with ESPN.
Portugal’s recent performance saw Ronaldo miss a crucial penalty before scoring a second-half goal, sparking renewed debate over his place in the squad. Critics argue that his inclusion puts unnecessary pressure on Martinez, making it difficult to transition to a more dynamic and youthful attacking setup.
With the 2026 World Cup fast approaching, the question remains: Will Portugal finally move on from Ronaldo, or will sentimentality cost them another shot at international glory?
