Former England international Chris Sutton has voiced strong criticism regarding Cristiano Ronaldo’s role in the Portuguese national team following their underwhelming start to the 2026 World Cup. Speaking on talkSPORT, Sutton described Portugal’s performance as ‘flat’ and ‘painful’ after they were held to a 1-1 draw by debutants DR Congo.
Portugal, considered by many as one of the tournament favorites, struggled to impose themselves against the underdogs. Joao Neves gave them an early lead with a header in the seventh minute, but they failed to build on that advantage. DR Congo equalized through a header from Newcastle United’s Yoane Wissa, scoring their first-ever World Cup goal.
Sutton, a former Chelsea striker, did not hold back in his assessment of manager Roberto Martinez. ‘I don’t understand some of his management,’ Sutton said. ‘Cristiano Ronaldo was on the periphery, and the game passed him by. Martinez has to be brave enough to be the manager. He is not the manager of the Portugal team, and that is their issue.’
Ronaldo, who was hoping to become the first player to score in six different World Cups, failed to make a significant impact. Sutton’s comments highlight growing concerns over Portugal’s tactical approach and the reliance on the veteran forward.