Former Aston Villa forward Gabriel Agbonlahor says Portugal should consider dropping captain Cristiano Ronaldo from the starting lineup for their next 2026 FIFA World Cup match against Uzbekistan. Both outlets report that Agbonlahor argues Ronaldo has reached the end of his peak effectiveness and is no longer providing the same impact Portugal needs in attack. In particular, he says Ronaldo is not holding the ball up effectively, suggesting he is less suitable to the role required in the team’s current approach.
The recommendations are framed as advice to Portugal coach Roberto Martínez ahead of the Uzbekistan fixture. Neither report indicates that Martínez has made a decision or that Portugal has announced any lineup changes. The articles describe the comments as coming from Agbonlahor’s perspective following Portugal’s ongoing preparations for the tournament and the upcoming match.
