With or Without Ronaldo in America, Portugal's Question Mark

Portugal has secured its place in the 2026 World Cup. Superstar forward Cristiano Ronaldo will have the opportunity to participate in six consecutive editions of the tournament. Behind this, there is a significant question: does Portugal have a better chance of becoming world champion with Ronaldo or not?

The question mark arose after the final qualifying match at the Estádio do Dragão, Porto, Portugal, on Sunday (16/11/2025 WIB). Portugal won 9-1 against Armenia. Without Ronaldo, who was serving a red card suspension, Portugal was able to secure the top position in Group F with a very dominant performance.

Bruno Fernandes and his teammates displayed a highly offensive performance with a very fluid structure. They focused on scoring goals in any way possible, not just aiming to supply Ronaldo as usual. Just look at the scoreboard; the names of the goal scorers for the home team were quite varied.

Two central midfielders, Fernandes and Joao Neves, each contributed hat tricks. Forwards Goncalo Ramos and Francisco Conceicao scored one goal each. Defender Renato Veiga also contributed to the opening goal. The Portuguese squad truly feasted on their opponents' defense.

The result marks Portugal's biggest victory since the match against Luxembourg in 2023. Interestingly, Ronaldo was also absent during the resounding win over Luxembourg. When the captain was not present, the Portugal squad was able to showcase their best potential as a cohesive team.

"I know many people are talking about this (Ronaldo's existence), but he has scored many goals for us during the qualifiers. He provides what other players cannot offer to the team. Meanwhile, other players also contribute what Cristiano cannot do," said Fernandes.

It is certainly unfair to conclude Ronaldo's existence solely based on those two matches. Armenia and Luxembourg are teams that are significantly inferior in quality to Portugal. This is evidenced by Portugal's 5-0 victory at home against Armenia last September, where Ronaldo contributed a pair of goals.

Nevertheless, the reality cannot be denied. Portugal's performance has indeed been more fluid without "CR7". Meanwhile, the last time Ronaldo appeared, Portugal lost 0-2 to Ireland. Ronaldo received a red card with half an hour remaining in regular time.

Portugal coach Roberto Martinez stated that it was not only Ronaldo who was absent from the match. Paris Saint-Germain wing-back Nuno Mendes, who is currently in top form at both club and national team levels, also did not play. However, does this mean that Portugal is better off without the two of them?

"No. We are better when together with Ronaldo, Nuno, and also Pedro Neto (who is also absent). The most important thing is to equalize the roles of the players. They are all equally important. When one player is absent, the other players must find a way to win," explained Martinez.

Martinez has always fully supported Ronaldo since taking charge of Portugal in early 2023. When available, the veteran is always prioritized to lead the attack. Martinez has not stopped praising his protégé in front of the media, including after Ronaldo was sent off the field in the match against Ireland.

Therefore, it is almost impossible for the coach to leave the player from the Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr out of the World Cup in America. Martinez is reluctant to be like the previous coach, Fernando Santos, who lost control in the locker room because he could no longer accommodate the ego of "CR7".

So, in America, will Portugal be better off with Ronaldo or the opposite? The answer depends on which version of Ronaldo will appear. If the story from the 2022 Qatar World Cup repeats itself, Portugal will find it difficult to achieve their dream of winning the World Cup for the first time.

At that time, under Santos' leadership, Portugal seemed to revolve solely around Ronaldo. The striker, who had great ambitions to surpass Lionel Messi, prioritized his own interests. Furthermore, there were rumors that Ronaldo was in conflict with Santos due to being benched in the round of 16 and the quarter-finals.

Portugal will also face difficulties if Ronaldo displays an emotional version of himself as he did at home against Ireland. He is easily provoked by the opposing defenders' disruptions on the field and the psychological warfare from the opposing coach before the match. As a captain who is already at a very mature age, he should be wiser.

Portugal will only be better if "CR7" arrives in a form similar to that in the UEFA Nations League final 2024-25, last June. At that time, Ronaldo displayed a remarkably disciplined performance in aiding the defense. He was willing to sacrifice for his teammates, rather than merely waiting for the ball up front. As a result, Portugal emerged as champions by defeating the defending European Championship titleholders, Spain.

Ronaldo will be 41 years old when the World Cup in America takes place. He is aware that he is no longer young and is likely to retire soon. However, he remains committed to making his final appearance in the World Cup. "I think it will be a moment in a major competition," he said. (AP/REUTERS)