Cristiano Ronaldo Faces Criticism After Portugal's Draw
June 19, 2026 · Carmen Pérez
Cristiano Ronaldo's performance in Portugal's 1-1 draw against DR Congo at the World Cup has drawn criticism, particularly regarding coach Roberto Martinez's decision not to substitute him.
Portugal's World Cup opener ended in a 1-1 draw against DR Congo in Houston, sparking criticism towards coach Roberto Martinez for not substituting Cristiano Ronaldo despite his lackluster performance. The 41-year-old Ronaldo, competing in his sixth World Cup, failed to score, extending his goalless streak in major tournaments to ten games. Criticism came from former England striker Chris Sutton, who labeled Martinez's decision as "embarrassing," suggesting the coach was afraid to remove Ronaldo from the pitch. Sutton, commenting for BBC Radio 5 Live, noted that Ronaldo's presence was largely ineffective, and questioned Martinez's management decisions. Wayne Rooney, Ronaldo's former Manchester United teammate, also expressed disappointment in Portugal's overall performance, urging for more energy and dynamism in the team. Ronaldo, with 229 caps and 143 goals for Portugal, is on a quest to become the first player to score in six World Cups. Portugal's next match is against Uzbekistan on Tuesday.
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