Portugal turns against Cristiano Ronaldo! ‘Why is he playing?’

Robin Bairner

24 Mar 2025 03:00 CDT
3 min read

Cristiano Ronaldo, Portugal, 2024/25 — © IMAGO

Cristiano Ronaldo continues to provoke debate in Portugal, despite helping the national team to a 5-2 win over Denmark after extra-time in the Nations League quarter-finals.

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Ronaldo was on target for Roberto Martinez’s side as they fought back from a 1-0 first-leg deficit to qualify for the final eight, though he was replaced before the additional period by PSG striker Goncalo Ramos.

STATS

Cristiano Ronaldo

F (C)

Al-Nassr

Cristiano Ronaldo

F (C)

Al-Nassr

7

Games
6

Goals
1

Assists

The Manchester United and Real Madrid legend might have taken a step towards the incredible 1000-goal mark in his career, but he had been heavily criticised for his performance in the Copenhagen clash just a few days earlier.

“I didn’t play at all and the team didn’t play at all,” Ronaldo responded to the press on Saturday, having refused to take part in the mixed zone following the defeat.

Ronaldo criticism continues

The Al-Nassr star might have helped his side through to face Germany in June, but that has not seen him dodge criticism for monopolising a place in the national team, which has been ongoing since his limp performances at Euro 2024.

A Bola asks: “At 40 years old, why does Ronaldo play for the national team? There could be several answers: because he wants to, because he can, because the records he has broken.

How do you tell the ‘goat’ that he’s no longer needed?

- A Bola - 24 March, 2025

“Answers that are also questions. Why has he been the force that has taken the national team to all the final stages for over 20 years? Some of them single-handed, like that night in Sweden when he scored three goals and Portugal went to the 2014 World Cup? Why does he sell tickets to the games? Because he is a symbol? The 'goat'?

“But how do you tell the ‘goat’ that he’s no longer needed?”

This is a problem that Roberto Martinez and his Portugal staff have either failed to solve or do not believe needs to be solved.

The Ronaldo issue, though, is dragging out and threatens to undermine Portugal each time they lose.