Hamburg, Germany — Cristiano Ronaldo stood with his Portugal teammates, hands resting on his hips, lips pressed together, his gaze fixed on the Portuguese fans gathered behind the goal. The disappointment was palpable.
Rúben Dias and Nuno Mendes, the defensive stalwarts who had successfully contained France’s star Kylian Mbappé, initiated the applause for the supporters. Ronaldo joined in, then turned to embrace Pepe, his long-time comrade in countless battles, the veteran defender potentially facing his final international appearance at 41. Pepe was visibly emotional, and Ronaldo offered words of comfort.
In that moment, Ronaldo appeared as just another member of the Portugal squad, united in their shared disappointment. He didn’t seem like Cristiano Ronaldo, the global icon and GOAT contender. Perhaps, with hindsight, if Portugal’s coach, Roberto Martinez, had recognized this sooner, the narrative of Portugal’s Euro 2024 Portugal campaign might have been different.
Throughout this tournament, Martinez’s strategy seemed to prioritize providing Ronaldo with every possible opportunity to add another glorious chapter to his already legendary career. This appeared to come at the expense of making decisions that might have given Portugal the optimal chance of securing victory in Euro 2024 Portugal. Ronaldo played every minute of every game, except for the final 25 minutes against Georgia, suggesting an unwavering faith, or perhaps over-reliance.
The statistics paint a stark picture. Ronaldo unleashed 23 shots during the tournament, the second-highest number for any player who failed to score at a Euros since the group stage format was introduced in 1980. His expected goals (xG) of 3.51 without a single goal are the highest ever recorded at a major men’s tournament since 1980. These numbers highlight a clear disconnect between opportunity and execution for the Portuguese captain in Euro 2024 Portugal.
It’s conceivable that Martinez, aware of Ronaldo’s remarkable record of scoring in every major tournament he had participated in (five World Cups and five Euros), reasoned that a goal was inevitable. This line of thinking resembles the flawed logic of expecting an underdog to win simply because “their luck has to change.”
While Ronaldo undeniably had a productive season in the Saudi Pro League, and statistical regression to the mean is a valid concept, the crucial factor in a knockout tournament is time. Missteps are unforgivable, and even the greatest players experience periods of reduced form. Euro 2024 Portugal proved to be such a moment for Ronaldo.
Beyond the cold, hard data, Martinez’s own observations should have raised concerns. While a tactical framework was constructed to accentuate Ronaldo’s strengths and mitigate his weaknesses, questions lingered. Rafael Leão, positioned on the left wing, maintained a high position defensively to offer a quick outlet. Bruno Fernandes was encouraged to venture into the box, effectively acting as a secondary striker. Bernardo Silva and João Cancelo provided crosses from the right flank. Even corner kick routines, designed to utilize Pepe and Ronaldo to occupy opposing central defenders, seemed tailored for Ronaldo’s scoring prowess in Euro 2024 Portugal.
Initially, this approach yielded results, particularly in qualifying and for significant portions of the match against France. Portugal generated promising scoring opportunities. However, the persistent issue of Ronaldo’s diminished mobility when not in possession should have become increasingly apparent to Martinez. The strain this placed on the midfield, coupled with the missed chances, presented a growing problem as Euro 2024 Portugal progressed.
This reality may have even dawned on Ronaldo himself. Early in the first period of extra time, Francisco Conceição skillfully evaded a defender and delivered a cutback pass to Ronaldo near the post. In his younger years, Ronaldo would likely have calmly converted such an opportunity. However, this time, the shot sailed over the crossbar, a stark indication of changing times in Euro 2024 Portugal.
Shortly after, in a burst of renewed energy, Ronaldo initiated a solo pressing effort, sprinting towards Dayot Upamecano. However, Upamecano easily brushed him aside and cleared the ball. In his prime, Ronaldo would have likely reached the ball first, outmaneuvered Upamecano, and fired a shot past Mike Maignan. But, as the saying goes, “the good old days are gone.”
Interestingly, the issue of Ronaldo’s role had been addressed before. Fernando Santos, Martinez’s predecessor, benched Ronaldo for the knockout stages of the Qatar World Cup just 18 months prior. Santos, who had coached Portugal for eight years, including Ronaldo’s peak years, and who had led them to victory at Euro 2016 (with an injured Ronaldo effectively acting as an assistant coach in the final), made the bold decision. Why couldn’t Martinez, a coach with his own proven track record, follow suit in Euro 2024 Portugal?
Martinez, not being Portuguese, didn’t grow up immersed in the “Ronaldo-as-savior” narrative. He was brought in as an outsider to provide a fresh perspective. Yet, his decisions in Euro 2024 Portugal suggested he had fully bought into the established dogma. On a night where Portugal arguably outplayed France – a testament to Martinez’s tactical approach which outmaneuvered Deschamps’ usual counter-attacking strategy – it appeared Martinez was determined to not just defeat France, but to do so with Ronaldo as the central figure.
Did Martinez lack faith in Gonçalo Ramos or Diogo Jota to contribute effectively, even for a limited period? Did he feel obligated to offer Ronaldo a chance at redemption after missed opportunities against Slovenia? If so, these considerations only compound the misjudgment.
The Slovenia game, and the full 120 minutes played by Ronaldo, should have served as a clear warning about the effects of fatigue at 39. Moreover, Ronaldo, with his unparalleled achievements, is beyond needing preferential treatment or manufactured redemption narratives in Euro 2024 Portugal.
Was Martinez expecting Ronaldo to request substitution, acknowledging fatigue and diminished effectiveness? Such an expectation is unrealistic. Elite athletes thrive on unwavering self-belief. Ronaldo embodies this more than most. Expecting him to bench himself is simply naive.
In contrast, Kylian Mbappé, despite scoring his first European Championship goal against Poland, requested to be substituted in extra time due to fatigue. This highlights a different approach to managing peak performance in Euro 2024 Portugal.
Portugal’s exit from the Euros isn’t solely attributable to Ronaldo playing 120 minutes. The penalty shootout loss, with João Félix hitting the post, and missed chances throughout the game by players like Leão, Fernandes, Vitinha, and Mendes, all contributed.
However, the manner of their Euro 2024 Portugal departure leaves a lingering sense of miscalculation. Martinez’s apparent tunnel vision, prioritizing Ronaldo’s central role, may have inadvertently undermined the team’s overall chances.
Ronaldo’s legacy is firmly established and needs no further validation. Perhaps if Martinez had recognized this sooner, if he had viewed Ronaldo as just one component of the team, as he seemed to do in the moments after defeat, applauding fans and consoling teammates, Portugal might still be contending in the semifinals of Euro 2024 Portugal.
