Why Cristiano Ronaldo Is No Longer a Guaranteed Starter for Portugal

This weekend, the UEFA Nations League will be in the spotlight for several European nations, with Portugal among the eight teams vying for this year’s championship title.

Standing in their way is Denmark, but should Portugal navigate this hurdle successfully, it will mark their first title since 2019 when they were the tournament’s hosts.

At the heart of their ambitions is their captain, the iconic and inspirational 40-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo.

Ronaldo’s status as one of the game’s all-time greats is firmly established. Yet, there is ever-growing speculation about whether his place in the squad is merely a reflection of sentimentality or if his figures truly support the notion that he remains a vital asset to the team.

From a scoring standpoint in this season’s competition, he has certainly made a significant contribution, netting five goals—just one short of half the total tally of 12 managed by the entire squad thus far.

Additionally, he has struck the woodwork three times, suggesting he could have reached eight goals in his five appearances, a tally any player half his age would celebrate.

Out of his five goals in the 2024/25 Nations League, only one has come from the penalty spot, putting to rest for now the misguided argument that most of his goals are scored from 12 yards—although all his goals have indeed come from within the box.

Ronaldo’s Impact Beyond Goals

Despite still being the focal point for match-winning moments, Ronaldo’s shooting accuracy currently stands at a mere 38.9%, the second lowest within the Portugal squad.

One could contend that the veteran is still finding himself in goal-scoring positions and that a player of his experience will inevitably have more misses than hits. However, given that talents like Bernardo Silva and Joao Felix boast accuracy rates of 100% and 83.3% respectively, it must be disheartening to see a teammate so revered struggling to find the target.

In addition, Ronaldo has squandered five clear-cut chances in the tournament, the highest number from a Portuguese player.

Among those in the squad attempting at least five dribbles, Ronaldo’s success rate of 60% ranks him equal with Bruno Fernandes; both have completed three dribbles. However, Fernandes is far more instrumental in the overall play, having made 380 touches in the Nations League compared to Ronaldo’s 182.

Ronaldo’s passing accuracy of 85.8% might seem impressive, yet it falls behind most of his teammates, with only two players having lower rates. His total of 127 passes pales in comparison to players like Ruben Dias (314), Vitinha (352), and Nuno Mendes (404).

While it’s true that playing on the wing or as a forward typically limits a player’s involvement, he must still contribute meaningfully during matches.

Even though Ronaldo is among players involved in at least 20 duels during the tournament, he’s far from being the strongest in this area. Only Bernardo Silva surpasses a 60% success rate, and his 61.9% average isn’t particularly impressive either.

Tackling is not the strongest aspect of Ronaldo’s game, as evidenced by his three tackles in five matches. It’s concerning that even Ruben Dias has managed only four in the same time frame.

Time for Ronaldo to Step Back from International Duty

On a positive note, Roberto Martinez’s squad has maintained a clean record in the tournament. They’ve avoided red cards and have largely refrained from unscrupulous play, with only Bruno receiving more than one yellow card to this point.

In aerial battles—an area where one might expect Ronaldo to shine—he has won only two out of ten headed duels, placing him among the least successful in this regard.

Surprisingly, even Rafa Leao, known for his lack of aerial strength previously, has triumphed in three from three attempts.

Within the same context, Ronaldo’s six ball recoveries are only surpassed by Diogo Jota, while Nuno Mendes (28) and Bruno Fernandes (23) lead in this statistic.

Both forwards—Ronaldo and Leao—have been flagged offside four times each, the only players to be penalised more than once. A small adjustment in their timing could see them have greater success in attacking scenarios.

Ultimately, Ronaldo’s ambition for Nations League success remains intact, and Martinez evidently recognises a quality in the Al Nassr star that he can leverage.

Perhaps it’s Ronaldo’s unique ability to motivate his teammates in the dressing room that justifies his continued presence in the squad. After all, he has consistently demonstrated that with dedication and the right mindset, greatness is achievable.

Fairly speaking, he is not the weakest link in the Portuguese squad; however, his impact appears to be diminishing—something that is to be expected of a player at the age of 40.

It’s evident that Ronaldo will see out the tournament, but examining the statistics, Portugal would be remiss to consider relying on him as they head toward the 2026 World Cup.

In conclusion, irrespective of whether they clinch the Nations League title, the moment has finally arrived for Cristiano to exit gracefully while he can still be regarded among the elite.