Guardian Column: Is It Wise for Portugal’s Talented Squad to Carry Ronaldo?

On July 2, The Guardian published an article discussing how Cristiano Ronaldo overshadows the Portuguese national team.

In the Euro 1/8 final, Portugal advanced to the quarter-finals after defeating Slovenia 3-0 on penalties. The Guardian commented, “Even though goalkeeper Costa saved three spot-kicks, all eyes remained on Ronaldo. In the World Cup match against Switzerland, when Ramos scored a hat-trick, he was still seen as a substitute for Ronaldo, whose name echoed in the stands. Despite his lack of impact after coming on, fans were content with just having him on the pitch.”

The newspaper then addressed Ronaldo’s records: “Ronaldo scored 10 goals in the Euro qualifiers, but against weaker opponents like Luxembourg and Liechtenstein. His assist for B Fee against Turkey made him the all-time leading assist provider in European Championship history, seemingly making his passes more significant than his goals.”

Regarding his performance against Slovenia, The Guardian observed: “He missed free kicks and lost possession with poor touches, struggling to connect with crosses in the second half. Diminished physicality and reaction speed mean he can no longer capitalize on chances as before. Normally, a player in such a state wouldn’t be selected. But this is the Portuguese team, and he is Ronaldo, so he will continue to feature against France.”

The Guardian concluded by questioning the role of Ronaldo within the team: “Is it fair for Portugal’s many talented players to play supporting roles to Ronaldo? Is it wise for a gifted squad to bear the cost of Ronaldo’s farewell at major tournaments? Sacrificing the team’s interests for a former superstar, regardless of his greatness, seems unsustainable in the pursuit of tournament victories.”