Is Portugal stronger without Ronaldo?

Controversy erupted over the role of striker Cristiano Ronaldo in the Portuguese national team after they qualified for the 2026 World Cup.

Ronaldo's role in the Portuguese national team is being questioned. Photo: Reuters .

The discussions intensified around the 2022 World Cup. At that time, Ronaldo was going through a slump in form at both club and national team levels. In Qatar, he only scored one goal, while his replacement, Goncalo Ramos, played impressively.

This led to Ronaldo being dropped from the starting lineup in the quarter-final against Morocco, a match Portugal lost 0-1 and were eliminated. Many at the time believed that CR7's international career was over.

However, the reality is quite the opposite. Since the 2022 World Cup, Ronaldo has consistently played and scored for the national team, with 25 goals in 30 matches. Under coach Roberto Martínez, CR7 continues to be the centerpiece of Portugal's attack.

However, the red card in the recent match against Ireland has reignited debate. In the game where Ronaldo was absent, Portugal beat Armenia 9-1, officially securing their place in the 2026 World Cup. This raises the question: is Portugal still dependent on CR7?

Ronaldo received a red card in the match against Ireland. Photo: Reuters .

Statistics show that since the 2022 World Cup, Portugal has played 36 matches, with Ronaldo participating in 30 of them. When CR7 is on the field, the team wins 70% of the matches, scoring an average of 2.2 goals per game.

Without Ronaldo, the win rate dropped to 66.6%, but the average number of goals per game surged to 4.8. Before the win against Armenia, Portugal had also scored 9 goals against Luxembourg in 2023, and Ronaldo was also absent from that match.

Nevertheless, in terms of contribution, Ronaldo still stands out. With 226 matches, 143 goals, and 37 assists, CR7 boasts an incredible efficiency: on average, he directly creates a goal for the national team every 100 minutes. No Portuguese striker in recent years has been able to match CR7.

Currently, Portugal has secured a place in the 2026 World Cup, but Ronaldo faces the risk of missing the first one or two matches due to a suspension. Despite the ongoing controversy, CR7's contribution to the national team is undeniable.

A close-up of Ronaldo's elbowing incident: In the early hours of November 14th, Cristiano Ronaldo lost control during Portugal's 0-2 defeat to the Republic of Ireland in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers in the European region.

Source: https://znews.vn/bo-dao-nha-manh-hon-khi-vang-ronaldo-post1603355.html