How Cristiano Ronaldo, Roberto Martinez and Portugal became the World Cup’s biggest disappointment | OneFootball

When Roberto Martinez was manager of Belgium, a witticism often voiced was that his fate would be determined by the technical director of the Belgian FA: a certain Roberto Martinez. Whether or not he is trigger-happy, Martinez may have sacked himself now. "I came to Portugal to win the World Cup and I ​think that, without winning it, there's no point in continuing," he said after Portugal departed the tournament without ever threatening to win it.

They were held by the Democratic Republic of Congo, mustering a lone shot on target. They were the worse side in drawing with Colombia. They may not have been the better one in edging past Croatia. Their elimination by Spain felt deserved, in part for the lack of ambition they demonstrated. And they were only facing Spain because their mediocre performance in the group stage cost them a seemingly easier route deeper into the tournament.

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(AP)

“I hope that Portugal has good memories in the three-and-a-half years I was head coach of the team,” said Martinez. Unlikely, unless the Portuguese footballing public particularly cherish the Nations League, which his side won last year.

Portugal had a terrific record in qualifying. In tournaments, however, they disappointed. A quarter-final appearance in Euro 2024 and a last-16 exit in the World Cup would have been respectable for many a country of Portugal’s size: but not with the talent to suggest their ranking before the tournament – fifth – was accurate. The suggestion was that Portugal might have international football’s best midfield, along with its outstanding left-back, in Nuno Mendes.

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Portugal were ultimately a major disappointment given the squad they possess (Reuters)

That was not reflected in results when it mattered most. Across two tournaments, Martinez’s Portugal drew a blank in three of their four knockout games. That was inextricably linked to Martinez’s fixation with picking Cristiano Ronaldo: it is impossible to know for certain, but it could have cost Portugal a victory to rank alongside Euro 2016 and surely denied them a better chance of silverware.

Portugal’s attacking impotence in North America, the rout of Uzbekistan aside, reflected the way Martinez failed to get the best from other attacking talents; arguably, in part, because they were hampered by Ronaldo.

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Cristiano Ronaldo arguably hampered Portugal (Reuters)

Bruno Fernandes was below his best; after getting the Premier League assist record, a player renowned for his productivity made one goal and scored none. Bernardo Silva had an ill-fated tournament: substituted at half-time against DR Congo after being booked, confined to often brief cameos thereafter. It felt a waste of a player of such influence. The current captain of Manchester United and the former skipper of Manchester City are in their thirties, with over 200 caps between them, but have spent their entire international careers in Ronaldo’s considerable shadow. Now it feels a given their best chance of winning a World Cup has gone.

Meanwhile, with Martinez refusing to change his striker, he was forever rotating his wingers. Rafael Leao, so influential against Croatia, was strangely demoted to be a substitute against Spain. Picking Joao Felix in his stead backfired.

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Roberto Martinez’s selection and tactics have been questioned (Reuters)

Take out the Uzbekistan game and Portugal only had eight shots on target against the four better sides they faced in the World Cup. It is a statistic that damns Martinez. In midfield, meanwhile, he demoted Silva but the Paris Saint-Germain pair of Joao Neves and Vitinha did not replicate their club form.

The pluses of Portugal’s tournament came further back in the team. Diogo Costa was one of the finest goalkeepers on show in the last month. Renato Veiga took a sizeable step forwards. Since Pepe retired, there was a question of who would partner Ruben Dias at the heart of the defence. The 22-year-old has provided an eloquent answer.

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The emergence of Renato Veiga shows there is hope for the future for Portugal (Reuters)

It means Portugal should be well positioned for the future. If the generation of Fernandes, Silva and Joao Cancelo can carry on until Euro 2028, they may only have two roles to fill: centre-forward and manager. It is imperative Ronaldo is pensioned off, whether or not, after 146 goals and 233 caps, he finally opts for international retirement. Portugal must hope AC Milan’s club-record buy of Goncalo Ramos gives the forward the first-team football he was denied by PSG; they have too few other alternatives.

Replacing Martinez ought to be feasible as Portugal produces a disproportionate number of both players and managers. Yet many of the latter have had their future settled in recent weeks. Jose Mourinho, Marco Silva and Ruben Amorim have taken new jobs, at Real Madrid, Benfica and AC Milan respectively. Nuno Espirito Santo has committed to stay at relegated West Ham.

The fact a Spaniard was in charge since 2023 was an indication many of the leading Portuguese managers preferred club posts. It will be intriguing where the Portuguese FA turn next. And, indeed, where Martinez heads next after a decade in the international game. His six years with Belgium were a qualified success, despite the hackneyed accusations he squandered a golden generation. He took them to third in a World Cup. Had he done likewise with Portugal, there would be a strong case to carry on. Instead, the memories of Martinez and Portugal are of a team who, hindered by their obsession with an ageing icon, never got close to realising their potential.