Roberto Martínez faces Ronaldo loyalty dilemma ahead of Portugal-Uzbekistan

Roberto Martínez is under pressure to justify Cristiano Ronaldo’s starting role as Portugal prepares for the match against Uzbekistan. A poll on the Portuguese sports outlet O Jogo asks whether Ronaldo should start in the Portugal-Uzbekistan fixture, with no result yet visible. The Portuguese squad is unsettled at their training base in Palm Beach, Florida, following a poor performance against Congo. João Neves’ post-match comments—‘Cristiano is no more than another player’—sparked reactions from Ronaldo’s family and drew international attention. There is growing unrest at Camp Cristiano. Martínez admitted he did not anticipate the scale of the problems after Congo equalized. The goal itself—a high ball won by Congo’s Yoane Wissa—was routine, but the aftermath exposed deep dysfunction. Players lost position, panic set in, and Martínez failed to restore order during breaks. Video footage the next day was used to confront the team with their collective disarray. National media initially focused on Ronaldo’s horror show against Congo, but Martínez sees the bigger issue. As Marc Degryse wrote in his column, Ronaldo’s impact depends entirely on the team functioning around him. Unlike Lionel Messi, Ronaldo cannot single-handedly elevate Portugal’s level. The entire team’s poor performance is the root problem. João Neves, 21, embodies the generational divide in the squad. Playing under Luis Enrique at PSG, Neves has been indoctrinated with the principle that every player’s contribution matters equally. His view clashes with Ronaldo’s expectation of unquestioned seniority. Bernardo Silva, 31, shares a similar mindset to Neves, further isolating Ronaldo. Ronaldo’s sister suggested on social media that he is not receiving the service he deserves, prompting Georgina Rodríguez to dismiss the claim as fake news from João Neves’ girlfriend with the remark: ‘Wow, the new generation is tough.’

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Ronaldo still believes he is the beginning and end of Portugal’s attack, a role he has occupied for two decades. Yet emerging players like João Neves, Vitinha, Tomás Araújo, and Renato Veiga operate under meritocratic principles taught by modern coaches such as Luis Enrique, Vincent Kompany, Xabi Alonso, and Arne Slot. These coaches do not grant automatic status based on reputation. João Neves does not wage a personal war against Ronaldo. He simply believes the ball should go to the best available option, even if that means bypassing Ronaldo. Martínez, however, remains a coach who values hierarchy and past achievements, creating a direct conflict with the squad’s evolving culture. This tournament has forced Martínez to confront the same dilemma he faced at the 2022 World Cup with Belgium. Where does loyalty to a player end and the need to make tough decisions begin? Martínez has wrestled with this question throughout his career. A commentator for O Jogo wrote: ‘If Martínez could, he would start Luis Figo tomorrow.’ The implication is clear: Martínez may be loyal to Ronaldo, but he is not blind to alternatives.

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This loyalty was tested with Eden Hazard at the 2022 World Cup. Despite prolonged support, Martínez dropped Hazard in Belgium’s final group game against Croatia after Hazard offered no justification for his place beyond reputation. Hazard was introduced in the 87th minute and announced his retirement from international football a week later. Ronaldo is a different caliber of player than Hazard, but the unthinkable cannot be ruled out. He will start against Uzbekistan. The real question is whether Martínez, whose tenure as Portugal’s coach is likely ending after this tournament, will make the same bold call if faced with a do-or-die scenario. Marc Degryse summarized Ronaldo’s dilemma bluntly: ‘If the players around him cannot get him into the ideal position, he is useless.’