{"id":1433397,"date":"2026-03-27T14:16:33","date_gmt":"2026-03-27T14:16:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/?post_type=features&#038;p=1433397"},"modified":"2026-03-27T14:16:33","modified_gmt":"2026-03-27T14:16:33","slug":"portugal-world-cup-analysis-ronaldo-martinez-hold-back","status":"publish","type":"features","link":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/features\/portugal-world-cup-analysis-ronaldo-martinez-hold-back\/","title":{"rendered":"Portugal World Cup analysis: Will Ronaldo and Martinez hold them back?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>Despite boasting a squad to rival any at this summer\u2019s World Cup, Portugal find themselves sixth-favourites to lift the famous trophy for the very first time.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Is it because of Cristiano Ronaldo\u2019s continued main character role? Roberto Martinez\u2019s inability to make the big call? A smaller nation mentality? Or a mix of all three?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-yoast-seo-table-of-contents yoast-table-of-contents\"><h2>In this article, we&#8217;ll cover:<\/h2><ul><li><a href=\"#h-smaller-nation-mentality-rears-its-head-at-times\" data-level=\"2\">Smaller nation mentality rears its head at times<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-ronaldo-continues-to-rule-the-roost\" data-level=\"2\">Ronaldo continues to rule the roost<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-build-around-bruno-and-all-star-midfield\" data-level=\"2\">Build around Bruno and all-star midfield<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-smaller-nation-mentality-rears-its-head-at-times\">Smaller nation mentality rears its head at times<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Let\u2019s start with their mentality. It can\u2019t be questioned that Portuguese football has made huge strides in recent decades. The <em>Selecao<\/em> have become one of the true powerhouses of European football.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Their Euro 2016 win and two Nations League successes in 2019 and 2025 are a testament to that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, there remains a nagging feeling that Portugal have a bit of a psychological issue when it comes to major tournaments. Their tournament record, particularly at the World Cup, is boom or bust.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Since winning the Euros in dramatic fashion in France, Portugal have failed to make it past the quarter-final stages. They fell to France in a penalty shootout after an incredibly drab game last time out. Belgium ended their defence in the last 16 three years earlier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There has also been semi-final heartache and a generational loss to Greece in the final in 2004 in Lisbon.<\/p>\n\n\n<hr \/>\r\n<h2>BOYLE Sports offer: Bet \u00a310 Get \u00a340 in free bets<\/h2>\r\n<p>Not signed up to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/bet\/betting-sites\/boylesports\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">BOYLE Sports<\/a> yet? Here's how to claim one of the best bookmaker welcome offers around...<\/p>\r\n<p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\r\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\r\n\r\n<!-- wp:list {\"ordered\":true} --><\/p>\r\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\"><!-- wp:list-item -->\r\n<li>Sign up to BOYLE Sports using this <a href=\"\/en\/go\/boylesports?q=gb-all-con-wof-s-spo\">link<\/a>.<\/li>\r\n<!-- \/wp:list-item -->\r\n\r\n<!-- wp:list-item -->\r\n<li>Deposit a minimum of \u00a310 (Excluding Skrill\/Moneybookers, Neteller, PayPal, Paysafe or prepaid cards).<\/li>\r\n<!-- \/wp:list-item -->\r\n\r\n<!-- wp:list-item -->\r\n<li>Place a minimum bet of \u00a310 or more at odds of EVS (2.0) or greater.<\/li>\r\n<!-- \/wp:list-item -->\r\n\r\n<!-- wp:list-item -->\r\n<li>Receive your \u00a340 in free bets<\/li>\r\n<!-- \/wp:list-item --><\/ol>\r\n<p><!-- \/wp:list -->\r\n\r\n<!-- wp:image {\"id\":1393641,\"sizeSlug\":\"large\",\"linkDestination\":\"none\"} --><\/p>\r\n<p><a href=\"\/en\/go\/boylesports?q=gb-all-con-wof-s-spo\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-1425440 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2022\/04\/20153506\/Screenshot-2026-01-20-153448-1024x323.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"323\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2022\/04\/20153506\/Screenshot-2026-01-20-153448-1024x323.png 1024w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2022\/04\/20153506\/Screenshot-2026-01-20-153448-300x95.png 300w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2022\/04\/20153506\/Screenshot-2026-01-20-153448-768x242.png 768w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2022\/04\/20153506\/Screenshot-2026-01-20-153448-400x126.png 400w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2022\/04\/20153506\/Screenshot-2026-01-20-153448-600x189.png 600w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2022\/04\/20153506\/Screenshot-2026-01-20-153448-190x60.png 190w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2022\/04\/20153506\/Screenshot-2026-01-20-153448-150x47.png 150w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2022\/04\/20153506\/Screenshot-2026-01-20-153448-40x13.png 40w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2022\/04\/20153506\/Screenshot-2026-01-20-153448.png 1524w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\r\n<p><!-- \/wp:image --><\/p>\r\n<p><em>18+ New UK customers (Excluding NI) only. Min Deposit \u00a310. Min stake \u00a310. Min odds Evs. Free bet applied on 1st settlement of any qualifying bet. 30 days to qualify. Free bets expire in 7 days. Cashed out\/Free Bets won\u2019t apply. Account &amp; Payment method restrictions apply. 1 Free Bet offer per customer, household &amp; IP Address only. T&amp;Cs Apply<\/em><\/p>\r\n<hr \/>\n\n\n\n<p>For a long time, Portugal\u2019s only positive memories from the World Cup came in their first-ever tournament in 1966. Eusebio carried his side to the semi-final where they lost to hosts and eventual winners, England.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>2002 was meant to be their year with the golden generation of Luis Figo, Rui Costa et al. But they were one of several big hitters to fall at the group stages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It would take the arrival of Ronaldo onto the international stage for things to begin to change. He starred in 2006 as Portugal made the semi-final 40 years on from the Black Pearl\u2019s heroics. And who could forget his wink after Wayne Rooney\u2019s red card?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That is the last time they have made the final four despite possessing one of the two best players to have played the sport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The failure in 2010 was somewhat acceptable as they lost to the clear best team in the world, Spain. But since then, it has been nothing but heartache and embarrassment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u00a0A 4-0 opening day loss to Germany in 2014 was the catalyst for a group stage exit. Uruguay knocked them out in the last 16 four years later. And worst of all, Morocco beat them in the quarter-finals in 2022.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-ronaldo-continues-to-rule-the-roost\">Ronaldo continues to rule the roost <\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Ronaldo\u2019s remarkable lack of any goals in the World Cup knockout stages is both a cause and a symptom of Portugal\u2019s struggles in the last 20 years. His hat-trick against Spain in the opening game of the 2018 tournament remains his standout moment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He was dropped for the first time at a tournament in Qatar, with his replacement, Goncalo Ramos, hitting a hat-trick in the 6-1 win over Switzerland in the last 16.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It felt like either the end of his international career or the start of a new chapter. but Roberto Martinez has gone back to the status quo since his arrival in 2023. To mixed returns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table is-style-stripes\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>World Cup appearances <\/strong><\/td><td><strong>22<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>World Cup goals <\/strong><\/td><td><strong>8<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>World Cup assists <\/strong><\/td><td><strong>2<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Minutes per World Cup goal <\/strong><\/td><td><strong>220<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Minutes per World Cup goal contribution<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>176<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>While the now-41-year-old can still score goals and did so in the Nations League final win over Spain, he is an obvious shadow of the player he once was. And was detrimental to their efforts at Euro 2024.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He failed to score a single goal in five games and missed a penalty against Slovenia as Portugal crashed out without a knockout goal across 240 minutes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Ronaldo\u2019s farcical red card in the shock qualifying loss in Dublin should have led to a three-game ban but the influence of both Donald Trump and Gianni Infantino prevented that. There was no way the biggest star would be allowed miss any of the \u201cbiggest ever World Cup\u201d was there?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The one game he did sit out saw Portugal hit Armenia for nine with both Bruno Fernandes and Joao Neves scoring hat-tricks. It showed the way forward to everyone bar probably Ronaldo and Martinez.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-build-around-bruno-and-all-star-midfield\">Build around Bruno and all-star midfield <\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Martinez should build his side around that pair and Vitinha. He has two thirds of Paris Saint-Germain\u2019s Champions League-winning midfield and arguably the best player in the Premier League right now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Throw in Bernardo Silva and a whole host of attacking options and there is more than enough there to go far without Ronaldo\u2019s unneeded constant presence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For Portugal\u2019s sake and for his best chance of winning the World Cup in what is his final chance, Ronaldo should embrace the role of super sub and serve as a mentor to his younger teammates. And hand the reins over to his one-time United teammate Fernandes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It could be the difference between a run to the final or another meek exit to an inferior side. Sadly, for most involved, it\u2019s unlikely Ronaldo has the humility or Martinez the courage to do it.<\/p>\n\n\n<h3><strong>Read more:<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/news\/\"><strong>Latest football news<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\r\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/bet\/football-tips\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Football betting tips<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\r\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/bet\/betting-sites\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Best betting sites<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\r\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/bet\/betting-sites\/best-free-bet-offers\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Best free bet offers<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\r\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/bet\/football-tips\/accumulator\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Football accumulator tips<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Despite boasting a squad to rival any at this summer\u2019s World Cup, Portugal find themselves sixth-favourites to lift the famous trophy for the very first time. Is it because of Cristiano Ronaldo\u2019s continued main character role? Roberto Martinez\u2019s inability to make the big call? A smaller nation mentality? Or a mix of all three? Smaller&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3577,"featured_media":1433401,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_yoast_wpseo_focuskw":"","_yoast_wpseo_title":"Portugal World Cup analysis: Will Ronaldo and Martinez hold them back?","_yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"Cristiano Ronaldo and Roberto Martinez's level of influence will likely decide Portugal's chances of success in the summer.","footnotes":""},"tags":[],"features-category":[],"squawka-category":[],"class_list":["post-1433397","features","type-features","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":{"external_featured_image_url":"","hide_featured_image_pattern":false},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.1 (Yoast SEO v27.1.1) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Portugal World Cup analysis: Will Ronaldo and Martinez hold them back?<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Cristiano Ronaldo and Roberto Martinez&#039;s level of 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