Ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo’s sixth World Cup appearance with Portugal, BBC Sport assesses his place in the team and whether Portugal perform better without him. The article frames the discussion around questions of selection, fitness, and tactical fit, focusing on whether Ronaldo remains essential to Portugal’s lineup. It considers the debate about whether he is “undroppable,” weighing the idea that his influence and experience could keep him in the starting XI against the argument that other options might improve balance and effectiveness depending on the match plan. The coverage reflects the broader public and football analysis around star-player involvement at major tournaments, where managers and squads must decide how to use individual strengths within a collective system. Overall, both sources point to the same premise: as Ronaldo approaches another World Cup, the key question is how his role is defined—starter, substitute, or tactical alternative—rather than solely evaluating past international output.