Cristiano Ronaldo’s World Cup journey with Portugal came to a disappointing halt after a narrow 1-0 loss to Spain, leaving fans and pundits alike questioning his performance. The match, marked by Mikel Merino’s last-minute goal, saw Spain advance to face Belgium, who convincingly defeated the USA 4-1.
At the final whistle, Ronaldo’s frustration was palpable. This latest exit from the tournament added to the weight of expectations that have followed him throughout his illustrious career. Despite Portugal’s talented roster, Ronaldo’s performance drew sharp criticism, particularly from former Chelsea striker Chris Sutton, who did not hold back in his assessment.
Sutton, providing commentary for BBC 5 Live, described Ronaldo’s movement on the pitch as reminiscent of a “granddad waddling around.” He expressed that Ronaldo’s lack of impact was a significant factor in Portugal’s early exit, suggesting that many players might feel let down by their veteran leader.
The criticism didn’t stop there. Sutton also directed his frustration at Portugal’s head coach, Roberto Martinez. He questioned the decision to leave rising star Goncalo Ramos on the bench, especially after Ramos had previously scored a crucial goal against Croatia. Sutton argued that Martinez failed to field the best possible team to compete for the World Cup, calling his management “scandalous.”
He emphasized that a team’s success heavily relies on its center forward’s performance, and in his view, Ronaldo’s contributions were minimal. “He does absolutely nothing,” Sutton remarked, pointing out that while Ronaldo may boast about his past achievements, many talented players on the squad would feel that their World Cup experience was wasted.
In a follow-up post on social media platform X, Sutton reiterated his stance, labeling Martinez as an “embarrassment” for allowing Ronaldo to dominate the lineup while sidelining other promising players. He described Portugal’s performance as a “freak show,” suggesting that the team’s strategy was flawed.
As the dust settles on Portugal’s World Cup exit, fans are left wondering what the future holds for Ronaldo and the national team. Will they regroup and come back stronger, or is this the end of an era?
