Cristiano Ronaldo, a figure synonymous with Portuguese football, stood amongst his national teammates, a tableau of disappointment etched on their faces. Hands rested on hips, lips pressed into a thin line, his gaze drifted towards the sea of Portuguese supporters behind the goal. Rúben Dias and Nuno Mendes, who had previously contained the formidable Kylian Mbappé, initiated the applause for the fans, which Ronaldo and Pepe, his long-time comrade, soon joined. As Pepe, visibly emotional at 41 years old, wept, Ronaldo offered words of comfort, a poignant moment of camaraderie amidst defeat at Euro 2024.
In that instant, Ronaldo appeared as just another member of the Portugal squad, united in their shared frustration. The aura of Cristiano Ronaldo, the global icon and GOAT contender, seemed to dissipate. This raises a critical question: could a different approach from Portugal’s manager, Roberto Martinez, regarding Ronaldo’s role have altered their Euro 2024 trajectory?
Throughout the tournament, Martinez’s strategy appeared heavily invested in providing Ronaldo with ample opportunities to enhance his legendary status. Ronaldo played almost every minute, except for the final stretch against Georgia. This unwavering faith, however, might have inadvertently hindered Portugal’s overall chances of success in Euro 2024.
The statistics paint a stark picture. Ronaldo’s 23 shots were the second-highest count for any player who failed to score in a Euros tournament since the group stage format’s inception in 1980. Furthermore, his expected goals (xG) of 3.51 without a single goal is unprecedented in major men’s tournaments since the same year.
Perhaps Martinez, aware of Ronaldo’s consistent scoring record in every major tournament he had participated in – five World Cups and five Euros – believed a goal was inevitable. This anticipation, however, mirrors the flawed logic of expecting an underdog to triumph simply because “their win is due.”
Ronaldo’s prolific season in the Saudi Pro League and the statistical principle of regression to the mean might have suggested a goal was on the horizon. Yet, knockout tournaments are unforgiving. Time is a luxury, and even the greatest players experience periods of drought.
Beyond mere numbers, Martinez’s tactical choices and observations should have prompted a reevaluation of Ronaldo’s role. While a system was constructed to amplify Ronaldo’s strengths and mitigate his weaknesses, questions arose about its overall effectiveness as Euro 2024 progressed.
Rafael Leão on the left wing adopted a high position during Portugal’s defensive phases, ensuring a quick outlet for counter-attacks, tailored to Ronaldo’s potential runs. Bruno Fernandes was granted freedom to venture into the box, effectively acting as a secondary striker. Bernardo Silva and João Cancelo provided crosses from the right flank. Even set-piece strategies, with Pepe and Ronaldo engaging opposing central defenders, seemed designed to favor Ronaldo’s aerial prowess.
This framework showed promise during qualification and even against France, where Portugal arguably generated better scoring opportunities. However, a crucial realization should have dawned upon Martinez: Ronaldo’s diminished mobility without the ball placed a considerable burden on the midfield, and his conversion rate was notably lacking.
This realization might have even occurred to Ronaldo himself. In extra time against France, Francisco Conceição’s dynamic run and cutback presented Ronaldo with a golden opportunity near the penalty spot. A younger Ronaldo would likely have converted such a chance with precision. However, the shot sailed over the crossbar, a stark contrast to his former clinical self.
Shortly after, in a burst of vintage energy, Ronaldo initiated a high press against Dayot Upamecano. But Upamecano easily shrugged him off and cleared the ball. In his prime, Ronaldo would have anticipated the pass, outmaneuvered Upamecano, and unleashed a shot past Mike Maignan. As the saying goes, “the thing about the old days is… they the old days.”
Interestingly, a similar situation had unfolded just 18 months prior when Fernando Santos, Martinez’s predecessor, benched Ronaldo for the knockout stages of the Qatar World Cup. If Santos, who had coached Portugal for eight years, including Ronaldo’s peak years and their Euro 2016 victory, could make such a decision, why couldn’t Martinez?
Martinez, an outsider to Portuguese football’s deep-rooted Ronaldo narrative, was expected to bring a fresh, objective perspective. His coaching journey, built through dedication and experience, suggested an analytical approach. Yet, his unwavering faith in Ronaldo appeared to overshadow strategic flexibility.
Despite Portugal arguably outplaying France – a testament to Martinez’s tactical setup against Didier Deschamps – it seemed Martinez was not only focused on winning but on ensuring Ronaldo played a central, starring role in that victory.
Did Martinez lack confidence in Gonçalo Ramos or Diogo Jota to provide impactful minutes off the bench? Was there a desire to offer Ronaldo a chance at redemption after missed opportunities in previous matches? If so, this approach arguably prioritized individual narrative over pragmatic team management in a high-stakes tournament like Euro 2024.
The Slovenia game, and the full 120 minutes Ronaldo played, should have served as a clear indicator of the impact of fatigue at 39 years old. Ronaldo, with his unparalleled achievements, needs no contrived redemption arcs.
Expecting Ronaldo to voluntarily request substitution is unrealistic. Elite athletes thrive on unwavering self-belief. Ronaldo embodies this more than most. In contrast, Kylian Mbappé, despite scoring his first Euros goal against Poland, requested to be substituted due to fatigue, demonstrating a different approach to prioritizing team needs.
Portugal’s Euro 2024 exit, decided by penalties after João Félix’s miss and despite numerous created chances throughout the tournament for players like Leão, Fernandes, Vitinha, and Mendes, wasn’t solely attributable to Ronaldo’s full game time. However, the manner of their departure leaves a lingering sense that Martinez’s tunnel vision, centered on Ronaldo, clouded strategic decisions.
Ronaldo’s legacy is firmly cemented. It requires no further validation. Perhaps, had Martinez perceived Ronaldo as simply one of his players, as he seemed to at the final whistle while consoling teammates and acknowledging fans, Portugal might have progressed further in Euro 2024.
