Would Portugal be better with Cristiano Ronaldo coming off bench for remainder of World Cup?

Cristiano Ronaldo. SAUL MARTINEZ/SPECIAL TO PALM BEACH POST / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Would Portugal be better with Cristiano Ronaldo coming off bench for remainder of World Cup?

By Clark Dalton | Last updated Jun 18, 2026 11:09 AM ET

Portugal may have a Cristiano Ronaldo problem after the forward flopped in its FIFA World Cup Opener against Congo DR on Wednesday.

Ronaldo scored no goals and tallied no assists in a 1-1 draw at NRG Stadium in Houston. He's now goalless in five straight World Cup matches. The disappointing performance raised more questions about whether he can remain effective at 41.

Some think that despite his best efforts, he simply can't beat the undefeated Father Time. With that in mind, ESPN analyst/MLS star Taylor Twellman believes Portugal manager Roberto Martinez should consider a stunning move.

Taylor Twellman believes Cristiano Ronaldo should come off bench

"This may be the deepest Portuguese team [it's] ever had at a World Cup, but I think [it's] better if Ronaldo comes off the bench," Twellman said Wednesday night on "SportsCenter."

“This may be the deepest Portuguese team they’ve ever had at a World Cup, but I think they’re better if Ronaldo comes off the bench.” @TaylorTwellman believes Portugal should make a change pic.twitter.com/cuo9LY6j6R
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) June 18, 2026

Fox analyst/ex-French standout Thierry Henry didn't go as far as Twellman, but he called out Ronaldo for trying to do too much, which disrupted Portugal's offensive flow.

"The team needs to score. Not you," Henry said in a studio broadcast after the match.

Ronaldo's desire to end his goal drought may have cost Portugal late in the match. In the 68th minute, he stepped in front of midfielder Bruno Fernandes and flubbed a shot. Henry noted Fernandes had a better look at the net.

Thierry Henry on Cristiano Ronaldo: "The team needs to score, not you need to score." ⚽️️ #WorldCup pic.twitter.com/0xkS1UaaAI
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) June 17, 2026

So, will Portugal make Ronaldo come off the bench in its next match in Group K against Uzbekistan on Tuesday (Fox/Telemundo, 1 p.m. ET)? Don't count on it.

He's playing in his record sixth World Cup, which will likely be his last. Martinez wouldn't want to potentially embarrass him by pulling him out of the starting lineup. He's also reminding fans it's just one game.

"It wasn't the start we wanted, but this is far from over," wrote Ronaldo on his Instagram (h/t ESPN's Adriana Garcia).

Ronaldo insists he and the team will rebound after Wednesday. He'd better keep that promise. Preventing one of Portugal's more talented teams from winning the country's first World Cup would stain his legacy.

Clark Dalton

Clark Dalton is a 2022 journalism graduate of the University of Texas at Austin. He gained experience in sports media over the past seven years — from live broadcasting and creating short films to podcasting and producing. In college, he wrote for The Daily Texan. He loves sports and enjoys hiking, kayaking and camping.

More must-reads: