Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal defeated Denmark 5-2 in Lisbon and 5-3 on aggregate to secure a spot in the Nations League semifinals. With goals from Trincão, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Gonçalo Ramos, the European giants mounted a successful comeback.
However, despite scoring in the 5-2 victory, many still believe it might be time for the five-time Ballon d’Or winner to relinquish his starting spot in the Portuguese national team.
Ronaldo remains one of the most dangerous forwards in the world, but over the two legs against Denmark, the 40-year-old did not look as sharp as he normally does, he even missed a penalty early on in the second leg on Sunday.
The shift in intensity from the Saudi League, along with the undeniable factor of his age, may have contributed to his dip in form. He struggled to perform at his best, both at home and away against Denmark.
This raises the question: Should Portugal start reducing Ronaldo’s game time, or should he voluntarily give up his starting role? With the option of a younger striker like Gonçalo Ramos, would Ronaldo be more effective coming on later in matches for Portugal when he can capitalize on fatigued defenders and midfielders?
Cristiano Ronaldo & Portugal – The Future?
Cristiano Ronaldo will continue to play a significant role in the Portuguese national team setup for at least the next two years. If Portugal qualifies, he will be present at next year’s World Cup. However, it might be wise for him to start fewer matches so Portugal can become more dynamic in his absence while maintaining a powerful option on the bench.
For years, Ronaldo has led Portugal’s attack, but the team may need to start transitioning. With talents like Trincão, Jota, Gonçalo Ramos, Bruno Fernandes, Francisco Conceição, Rafael Leão, and Pedro Neto, Portugal can become even more unpredictable and difficult to play against.
