Portugal manager Roberto Martinez has explained why he chose not to substitute Cristiano Ronaldo during their 2026 World Cup opener against DR Congo, which ended in a 1-1 draw in Houston. Despite widespread criticism of Ronaldo’s performance, Martinez insisted that keeping the veteran striker on the pitch was the logical choice for a team chasing a goal.
Martinez described Ronaldo as “the best goalscorer in history” and argued that removing him would have been counterproductive. “It made no sense at all to take off a player of his caliber when we were desperately searching for a goal,” Martinez stated. The coach’s comments come after fans and analysts questioned Ronaldo’s impact, with many suggesting the 41-year-old is no longer at his peak.
Ronaldo, who now plays for Al Nassr, failed to find the net as Portugal had to settle for a point. The draw puts pressure on the team ahead of their next match against Uzbekistan, where Ronaldo will be eager to prove his detractors wrong and rediscover his scoring touch.