Ronaldo responds as calls grow to drop him from Portugal XI after DR Congo draw

‘It’s not right’ – Paul Scholes makes Cristiano Ronaldo claim after Portugal stumble at World Cup

Cristiano Ronaldo was largely ineffective as Portugal were held to a 1-1 draw by DR Congo (Picture: Getty) Paul Scholes says Cristiano Ronaldo has become a ‘bit of a problem’ for Portugal and ‘it’s not right’ that the superstar forward is still leading the line at the grand old age of 41. Ronaldo equaled Lionel Messi’s record of featuring at six separate World Cups as he captained Portugal in the side’s opening group-stage contest against DR Congo on Wednesday. Roberto Martinez has a star-studded squad at his disposal this summer and the 2025 Nations League winners are viewed as one of the major contenders to lift the prestigious trophy, along with the likes of France, Spain, England and reigning champions Argentina. But while Joao Neves broke the deadlock in only the sixth minute to get the Portuguese off to a dream start, Martinez’s men failed to capitalise on their dominance in Houston. Don't miss a World Cup moment Lionel Messi’s hat-trick. Cape Verde’s heroics. Those Scottish fans. It’s been a memorable World Cup so far – our daily newsletter helps you make the most of it. Sign up. Newcastle attacker Yoane Wissa headed home an equaliser against the run of play to make it all square on the stroke of half-time and Portugal came up short in pursuit of a winner, instead having to settle for a point. It proved a night to forget for Ronaldo, who failed to create any chances, take any shots, successfully take on an opponents or win a single duel in an especially disappointing first-half performance. But Martinez decided to keep Ronaldo on the field until the final whistle, instead opting to bring off Pedro Neto, Vitinha, Bernardo Silva, Tomas Araujo and Nuno Mendes. The five-time Ballon d’Or winner is appearing at his sixth World Cup this summer (Picture: Getty) Ronaldo should be used in the closing stages of games, says Scholes (Picture: The Good, The Bad & The Football) ‘I think it’s difficult for the manager,’ former England and Manchester United midfielder Scholes said on The Good, The Bad & The Football podcast. ‘I did a Stick to Football with Roberto Martinez and I asked him off-camera, I said, “Is he a problem for you?”, because I feel he is a little bit of a problem. ‘At 41 years of age… I think there’s only one position on the pitch at 41 years of age where you should be starting a game and that’s goalkeeper, for me. ‘Now look, he is going to score goals and he’s in a team that have a lot of possession, but once there’s a game where it has to be transition… and there will be games like that. His movement at 41 years of age…’ To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Up Next Previous Page Next Page Scholes, who shared a dressing room with Ronaldo for six years at Old Trafford, ‘feels sorry’ for Martinez and believes the five-time Ballon d’Or winner would be far more effective coming off the bench in the closing stages. ‘The trouble with Portugal is they haven’t really got an outstanding centre-forward anyway, have they? You’ve got to have somebody who runs,’ he added. ‘For me, he has to be a player for the last 15 minutes. For a 40 or 41-year-old to be playing centre-forward, I just don’t get it. Scholes and Ronaldo were team-mates for seven years at United (Picture: Getty) ‘You might get away with it at centre-half, you might do in a team that keeps the ball and you probably get away with it as a goalkeeper, but as a centre-forward at 41… it’s not right. ‘We saw it with Croatia and Luka Modric last night at 40 years old. Central midfield at 40… ‘Cristiano will be so pissed off because Lionel Messi got a hat-trick, Kylian Mbappe got two… it will be killing him. ‘I feel sorry for Martinez because he’s trying to embrace it and he’s saying, “No, I’ve got the best goalscorer in the world”, but deep down he must know that’s hurting his team.’ Ronaldo and Co return to action against Uzbekistan next Tuesday (Picture: Getty) Nicky Butt, another of Ronaldo’s former team-mates, agreed with Scholes that Martinez has a ‘massive problem’ on his hands. ‘I think he’s got that much of an ego, Cristiano. He’s a great lad but he’s got such an ego and he’ll be a massive problem for that squad,’ he chimed in. ‘He was when he came back to Manchester United for a second time, it was a problem. ‘If you look at the fans [for Portugal’s draw with DR Congo] last night, they had around 20,000 Portuguese fans and I reckon 18,000 had “Ronaldo 7” on their back so you’ve also got that to deal with as a manager as well.’ To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Up Next Previous Page Next Page With calls intensifying for Martinez to drop him from the starting XI, Ronaldo took to Instagram to address Portugal’s fans on Wednesday. ‘Not the start we wanted,’ the former Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus star, now with Al-Nassr, wrote. ‘But this is far from over. Head up and focus on the next game.’ Scholes ‘feels sorry’ for Portugal manager Martinez (Picture: Getty) Martinez, meanwhile, shied away from direct questioning over Ronaldo’s largely anonymous showing at his post-match press conference, instead pinning the blame on an apparent lack of support in attack. ‘We have to utilise all the players on the pitch. The lead attacker [Ronaldo] needs to be close to the six-yard box and we need to get the ball to him.’ When asked if he considered substituting Ronaldo, Martinez stressed that the veteran forward’s experience was key. It makes no sense to get the best goalscorer in world football out in a game that you need goals,’ he said. ‘For us in moments like this, the experience of Cristiano in the box is important. The way that he attracts defenders is important, the way that we can use the space is important. ‘And every player has a responsibility or a piece of quality on the pitch. And clearly when you look for goals, you need to have Cristiano.’ For more stories like this, check our sport page. Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Comment now Comments Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google Add as preferred source

11 hours ago

Roberto Martinez in talks to take over at Cristiano Ronaldo’s club after World Cup

Ronaldo and Martinez could be together at club level next season (Picture: Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images) Portugal manager Roberto Martinez is in discussions to take over at Cristiano Ronaldo’s club Al-Nassr after the World Cup. Martinez is approaching the end of his contract having taken over as Portugal’s head coach in 2023. Attempts to leave on a high got off to an inauspicious start on Wednesday with his side held to a 1-1 draw against DR Congo in their Group K match. The former Swansea, Wigan and Everton boss is already eying up his next role with RMC Sport reporting the 52-year-old has begun talks to replace Jorge Jesus as Al Nassr head coach. Don't miss a World Cup moment Lionel Messi’s hat-trick. Cape Verde’s heroics. Those Scottish fans. It’s been a memorable World Cup so far – our daily newsletter helps you make the most of it. Sign up. Such a move would see Martinez continue working with Ronaldo with the two sharing a close relationship in the national team set up. Portugal have arguably the most complete midfield international football in Joao Neves, Vitinha and Bruno Fernandes but had no cutting edge up front with Ronaldo leading the line in their group opener. The former Real Madrid and Manchester United star is his country’s leading goal scorer with 143 goals but has not scored a non-penalty goal for his country in a major competition since 2021 despite being virtually undroppable.   Ronaldo had another frustrating night against DR Congo (Picture: 2026 Eurasia Sport Images) Ronaldo again played the full 90 minutes on Wednesday, managing just three shots on goal, not on target, in a toothless display. Martinez’s predecessor Fernando Santos famously dropped Ronaldo for a quarter-final clash with Switzerland at the 2022 World Cup with Goncalo Ramos scoring a thrilling hat-trick in his place. But the current Portugal boss insists he has no plans to leave the 41-year-old out of his team. Martinez’s contract expires after the World Cup (Picture: Getty Images) ‘It makes no sense to get the best goal scorer in world football out in a game that you need goals,’ Martinez said. ‘For us in moments like this, the experience of Cristiano in the box is important. The way that ​he attracts defenders is ​important, the way ⁠that we can use the space is important. ‘And every player has a responsibility or a piece of quality on the pitch. And clearly ​when you look for goals, you need to have Cristiano.’ Comment now Comments Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google Add as preferred source

22 hours ago

Cristiano Ronaldo breaks silence amid calls for Portugal to axe him from World Cup starting XI

Cristiano Ronaldo faced heavy criticism following his performance for Portugal against DR Congo (Picture: Getty) Cristiano Ronaldo issued a defiant statement amid mounting calls for the Portugal captain to be axed from Roberto Martinez’s World Cup starting XI. One of the pre-tournament favourites began their campaign with an underwhelming 1-1 draw against DR Congo. An early Joao Neves header looked likely to put Martinez’s side on course for a routine win, but Portugal failed to build on that platform and were pegged back before half-time when Yoane Wissa equalised. Former Everton and Wigan manager Martinez rang the changes after the break, but saw fit to keep Ronaldo on the pitch for the full 90 minutes despite the side’s talisman looking a shadow of his former self. Don't miss a World Cup moment Lionel Messi’s hat-trick. Cape Verde’s heroics. Those Scottish fans. It’s been a memorable World Cup so far – our daily newsletter helps you make the most of it. Sign up. After another ineffective display, during which he managed just 25 touches, Ronaldo’s run without a goal at a major tournament has now extended to 10 matches and his continued presence in the team now appears more of a hinderance than a help. While other leading lights, including the likes of Harry Kane, Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi, have started the tournament with a bang,Ronaldo looked every inch his 41 years of age as he was easily contained by a DR Congo side, who even admitted they didn’t need to put a special plan in pace to nullify his threat. Midfielder Ngal Ayel Mukau said: ‘A special plan to contain Cristiano Ronaldo? To be honest, not really. Cristiano Ronaldo struggled to make an impact against DR Congo (Picture: Getty) ‘We know that he isn’t the same as before. He’s a bit older now. But still, he’s one of the greatest, much respect to him.’ Portugal continue their campaign against Uzbekistan next Tuesday ahead of which Martinez is likely to face further calls to restrict Ronaldo’s role to that of an impact substitute. The former multiple Ballon d’OR winner, however, insists all is not lost after the first game of the competition, writing on Instagram: ‘Not the start we wanted. ‘But this is far from over. Head up and focus on the next game.’ 0 – Cristiano Ronaldo has now gone 10 consecutive major tournament games without scoring for Portugal (FIFA World Cup/EURO):33 shots11 on target0 goalsDrought. pic.twitter.com/PYQIHPgCkM— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) June 17, 2026 Martinez, meanwhile, was not in the mood to speak specifically about Ronaldo’s performance in the post-match press conference, suggesting the forward was not given the support he needed. ‘We have to utilize all the players on the pitch. The lead attacker (Ronaldo) needs to be close to the six-yard box and we need to get the ball (to him).’ Asked if he thought about substituting Ronaldo, Martinez said the forward’s experience was key. Roberto Martinez is facing calls for Cristiano Ronaldo to be dropped from his Portugal starting XI (Credits: REUTERS) ‘It makes no sense to get the best goalscorer in world football out in a game that you need goals,’ he said. ‘For us in moments like this, the experience of Cristiano in the box is important. The way that he attracts defenders is important, the way that we can use the space is important. ‘And every player has a responsibility or a piece of quality on the pitch. And clearly when you look for goals, you need to have Cristiano.’ Comment now Comments Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google Add as preferred source

23 hours ago

Gael Clichy makes Cristiano Ronaldo World Cup claim after Portugal draw with DR Congo

Cristiano Ronaldo during Portugal’s World Cup opener (Picture: Getty) Gael Clichy suggested Cristiano Ronaldo could be holding Portugal back after they began their World Cup campaign with an underwhelming draw against DR Congo. Portugal were one of the favourites to win the World Cup before a ball was kicked but struggled in their opening fixture against minnows DR Congo. Roberto Martinez’s side looked set for a comfortable evening when Joao Neves headed the European giants ahead inside seven minutes. But Portugal failed to press home their advantage, with DR Congo scoring their first World Cup goal through Newcastle United striker Yoane Wissa’s header. Don't miss anything from the World Cup Still got it (Picture: MB Media/Getty Images) A Lionel Messi hattrick. A Kylian Mbappe screamer. Erling Haaland's first World Cup goals. We've got it all in today's World Cup newsletter. Oh, and we're looking ahead to England's crucial opener against Croatia. Sign up here. Legendary striker Ronaldo matched Argentina’s Lionel Messi’s record by playing in a sixth World Cup but was unable to become the first player in history to score in six different tournaments. Clichy believes the presence of Ronaldo up top meant Portugal were not playing ‘naturally’ and suggested they could benefit if the 41-year-old came out of the side. ‘We said at the beginning of the game that Cristiano Ronaldo will be helping young players because of his character, because of his experience, but sometimes unconsciously those kinds of players can take too much light,’ ex-Arsenal, Manchester City and France defender Clichy said on BBC One. Ronaldo struggled to make an impact against DR Congo (Picture: Getty) ‘When you take them out you can see players take responsibility. This is where the choices of the manager are important because during 90 minutes we were saying will he take him out because we know he has a goal in him. ‘But at the same time, the game is not natural because of him being on the pitch. They tried to go wide because they tried to reach him. Maybe if he wasn’t there they can link up more in the middle of the pitch. ‘Overall I think it was a great point for DR Congo. I think they played a very good game. ‘Portugal will be questioning different choices from Roberto Martinez. But well done to DR Congo because they could’ve won the game.’ DR Congo frustrated European giants Portugal (Picture: Getty) Ex-England striker Chris Sutton also questioned Ronaldo’s place in the Portugal team after a ‘flat’ and ‘painful’ performance against DR Congo. ‘Portugal were painful,’ he said. ‘It was a really insipid, flat performance. ‘The story is all about DR Congo and how they grew into the game. Second half, it was a pretty even game but what a point for DR Congo. ‘Roberto Martinez, I don’t understand some of his management. Cristiano Ronaldo was on the periphery and the game passed him by. Portugal boss Roberto Martinez (Picture: Getty) ‘Martinez has to be brave enough to be the manager. He is not the manager of the Portugal team and that is their issue.’ Former England captain Wayne Rooney was underwhelmed by Portugal’s performance but defended his ex-Manchester United teammate Ronaldo. ‘The first game of the group is so important and for Portugal to perform the way they have performed, you want to see more energy, I want to see more legs in the team,’ he said. ‘I want to see players run past Cristiano Ronaldo at times. I think it was a poor performance from Portugal. Yoane Wissa scores DR Congo’s first-ever World Cup goal! 🇨🇩⚽It makes it 1-1 against Portugal in a historic moment for the nation. pic.twitter.com/Q7B6FcT3tn— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) June 17, 2026 ‘Cristiano Ronaldo’s stats are never going to be the best, so what he needs are chances. If he gets chances, and a good chance, he will score goals. ‘We can look at stats over the last five years and they mean nothing.’ Ex-Ireland international Tony Cascarino said Ronaldo ‘offered nothing to the Portuguese team’ and was stunned Martinez did not take him off. ‘I’m trying to be as kind as I can… but he [Ronaldo] was really off it. And he just looks like time has caught up with him,’ he said on talkSPORT. ‘He hasn’t got the pace. He’s not even got the energy to pick up the ball. I remember Ronaldo as that winger that just got the ball and drove at people. ‘Okay, he’s aged, he’s not that type of player anymore, but he offered nothing to the Portuguese team. I can’t believe Martinez has kept him on. ‘I’m thinking, “This is your job – does he just want to keep friends with Ronaldo? Do you want to stay on his side?” You’ve got to take people off. ‘If that’s the decision that improves the team and gives the best chance of winning, you’ve got to make it as a manager. ‘And I know he’s going to leave at the end of this term. This felt like it’s a manager just going, “I’m gonna stay pals with my mate Ronaldo”.’ For more stories like this, check our sport page. Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Comment now Comments Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google Add as preferred source

1 day ago