“It Made No Sense” – Martinez Fires Back at Ronaldo Critics After Portugal World Cup Stumble

Portugal manager Roberto Martinez has come to the defense of Cristiano Ronaldo following criticism of his decision to leave the veteran forward on the pitch during Portugal’s 1-1 draw against DR Congo in their opening FIFA World Cup 2026 match.

Portugal were held to a frustrating stalemate despite entering the tournament as one of the favorites in Group K. As the match wore on and Portugal searched for a decisive goal, some fans and pundits questioned whether Ronaldo should have been substituted.

Martinez, however, dismissed those suggestions, stressing that removing the most prolific goalscorer in football history would have made little sense while his side were still chasing a winner.

“It made no sense at all to take off Cristiano Ronaldo, who is the best scorer in history, off the field when we were looking for goals,” Martinez said after the match.

The Portugal coach reiterated his faith in the 41-year-old captain, highlighting Ronaldo’s experience, leadership, and unmatched goalscoring record as key reasons for keeping him on the field during crucial moments.

The draw leaves Portugal with work to do in Group K, where every point could prove decisive in the race for qualification to the knockout stages. Martinez’s men will now shift their focus to their next group fixture, knowing an improved performance will be required to strengthen their position.

For Ronaldo, the result may not have been the ideal start to another World Cup campaign, but the backing of his manager remains unwavering as Portugal look to bounce back in their upcoming matches.