Ronaldo and his 'appallingly bad manager' held back Portugal

Ronaldo’s limited impact and Portugal’s tactical decisions were central to a critical reaction after the team lost to Spain, with the article arguing Roberto Martínez held Cristiano Ronaldo back. The piece describes Portugal’s tournament as affected by how Martínez handled squad choices, despite noting that Ronaldo still scored a penalty during the competition. It claims that focusing too much on Ronaldo prevented Portugal from using a broader talent pool, naming players such as Rúben Dias, João Cancelo, Bernardo Silva, Bruno Fernandes, and Rúben Neves as part of what it calls a “golden chance” to succeed. The article contrasts the approach by referencing Martínez’s earlier pattern with Belgium’s aging stars, implying Belgium refreshed their lineup for the U.S. match and advanced. It also frames Ronaldo’s World Cup record as overall average for a player of his stature, and it closes by looking ahead to the next Euros. The narrative is presented as sports commentary rather than an official report, but it centers on the Portugal–Spain World Cup outcome.