The Hard Truth About Portugal's 2026 Hopes: Ronaldo Shouldn't Be the Focal Point

 

Portugal steps into this summer’s tournament with a group I’d describe as manageable on paper. Colombia will likely test this European side, and I expect a straightforward result against DR Congo soon. Uzbekistan, making its first appearance, probably won’t cause many issues.

 

On the surface, Roberto Martinez has the tools for a deep run. Yet, I see one major flaw that could end their hopes before the final, despite a squad packed with talent. Bruno Fernandes arrives fresh from a record-breaking club season, having created 21 assists, a new Premier League high. Joao Neves and Vitinha enter the fray after a strong Champions League run. Rafael Leao, Bernardo Silva, Nuno Mendes, and Ruben Dias provide elite quality all over the pitch. But there’s a central issue that overshadows it all, and it revolves around Cristiano Ronaldo.

 

Ronaldo's 1,000-Goal Target and Its Distraction

 

Ronaldo will likely spearhead the attack, even at 41. Suspension rules mean he dodged a full three-match ban after a red card against the Republic of Ireland last November, freeing him to play. For any other nation, having a player chasing 1,000 career goals feels like a positive. For this Portugal side, I believe it actively works against their flow.

 

Look at the pre-tournament wins against Chile and Nigeria. The results aren’t what stuck with me. What I recall are the misses: a one-on-one you’d expect him to bury, a header off target, a lost possession when a pass was the better choice. These moments overshadow the team's overall success and build uncomfortable pressure. I can’t help but feel Portugal’s biggest task in North America is not tactical, but finding a way to avoid bending their system entirely to suit one player.

 

Lessons from the Euro 2024 Disappointment

 

The Euro 2024 campaign offered clear evidence of how ineffective the setup can become with Ronaldo as the sole focus. He registered 23 shots at that tournament, second only to Kylian Mbappe, who had 24. The difference was that Mbappe found the net. Ronaldo didn’t score once. An expected goals underperformance of 3.6 highlighted how strong the chances were.

 

Watching that penalty miss against Slovenia felt like a moment that should have prompted change, but never did. Still, 24 months on, we’re about to watch the same dynamic unfold on the World Cup stage. It’s a pattern that worries me.

 

Elite Striker Options Are Limited, and That's a Real Problem

 

Martinez doesn't have much to work with up front. Goncalo Ramos sits as the primary backup to Ronaldo this summer. The 24-year-old gave us that unforgettable hat-trick against Switzerland back in 2022, a moment that made everyone think Portugal had found their next number nine. Then reality set in. His time at Paris Saint-Germain hasn't gone to plan. Consistent minutes were hard to come by last season. Across PSG's 2025-26 Ligue 1 title run, Ramos managed six league goals. Only three of those came from 13 starts, and honestly, two were against a relegated Metz side that had already checked out.

 

That's not the form you want from your second-choice striker heading into a World Cup. Then you look at the other names. Joao Felix? Talented, no doubt, but he doesn't function well as the lone forward in a 4-3-3. Goncalo Guedes has the same issue. Neither player gives you the hold-up play or box presence a central striker needs in that shape. Martinez is stuck. The options simply aren't there, so he defaults to Ronaldo. Not because the tactical fit is perfect, but because the alternatives don't exist.

 

What Portugal Actually Needs to Do

 

Here's my take. If Portugal wants to win this World Cup, Ronaldo cannot be the endpoint of every attacking move. Euro 2024 already showed us what happens when that becomes the plan. They crashed out to France in the quarter-finals. Zero knockout goals scored. Let that sink in. A team with Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva, and Rafael Leao didn't find the net once when it mattered most. The reason was obvious to anyone watching. Everything funneled through one aging forward, and the French defense knew exactly how to handle it.

 

This Portugal squad is one of the strongest in North America. The quality across midfield and defense is undeniable. But quality alone doesn't win tournaments. Systems and decision-making do.

 

Ronaldo put up 28 goals in the Saudi Pro League this past season. Solid numbers on the surface, but the context matters. That league sits well below the intensity of a World Cup knockout match. The pre-tournament friendlies highlighted the difference in competitive intensity. Portugal can't afford to sleepwalk into the DR Congo match. They should get the job done against the Leopards. I expect them to. But it becomes a much cleaner 90 minutes if the game plan doesn't ask Ronaldo to carry the scoring burden alone.

 

Spread the responsibility. Let the midfield create without tunnel vision. That's the path to three points, and frankly, the only path beyond the quarter-finals.

 

Smart Betting Angle: BC.Game Match Odds

 

Looking at Portugal's setup, I just can't see them lifting the trophy with Ronaldo as the focal point. Euro 2024 raised significant questions about that approach, and these warm-up games haven't changed my mind.

 

Here's what stands out to me at GoalBible, though. Ronaldo remains a Golden Boot outsider. The group stage gives him comparatively less experienced defenses in DR Congo and Uzbekistan. Plus, he's still on penalties and free-kicks. That combination keeps him in the race even if Portugal doesn't go all the way.

 

For those wanting to get action on Portugal games or Ronaldo's goal markets, BC.Game has attractive World Cup odds. Their lines update as matches progress, so you can react to how games unfold.

 

Portugal has the quality to reach the quarter-finals or better. But I'm staying away from their outright winner odds until Martinez shows he's willing to reduce Ronaldo's role in attack.

 

🔗 Register at BC.Game to see the World Cup latest odds now

 

FAQs

 

1. Who will be Portugal's striker if not Ronaldo?

Goncalo Ramos is the backup. He scored only six league goals for PSG last season. Joao Felix and Goncalo Guedes don't work as lone strikers in a 4-3-3.

 

2. How did Ronaldo perform at Euro 2024?

23 shots, 0 goals, 3.6 xG underperformance. Also missed a penalty against Slovenia. His decline at the international level was clear.

 

3. Who are Portugal's key players besides Ronaldo?

Bruno Fernandes, Joao Neves, Vitinha, Rafael Leao, Bernardo Silva, Nuno Mendes, and Ruben Dias.

 

4. Who is Portugal's coach for the 2026 World Cup?

Roberto Martinez. He has continued to rely on Ronaldo despite Portugal's disappointing Euro 2024 campaign, with limited alternative options.