Portugal’s decision to let Roberto Martinez and Cristiano Ronaldo steer their golden generation towards another failed World Cup campaign will long be seen as a missed opportunity of monumental proportions.

Wayne Rooney called Cristiano Ronaldo’s final World Cup outing “a sad day for football”. In truth, it wasn’t quite that. Ronaldo remains one of the sport’s most recognisable figures, but when Spain defeated a lifeless Portugal side, combined with Belgium’s thrashing of the United States, July 6, 2026 turned out to be a rather positive day for football’s future.

That’s not to overlook the millions of fans around the world who were heartbroken by the end of Ronaldo’s World Cup “dream”. Even the man himself once believed Qatar 2022 marked his final appearance on football’s biggest stage. Yet, making it to a sixth World Cup at the age of 41 was an astounding feat — proof of his unmatched dedication and physical conditioning.

“He is a genius, a superstar,” Rooney said of his former Manchester United teammate on BBC Sport. “What he has given football is incredibly rare. He will be disappointed because he truly believed he could win this tournament.”

Unfortunately, the only other person who shared that belief was Roberto Martinez. And that, ultimately, is what makes Portugal’s early exit so disheartening — one man was allowed to prioritise individual interests over the collective ambitions of a nation.

Madman

Portugal’s limp round-of-16 exit in Arlington surprised no one. It had been coming for a while.

The Seleção’s campaign was destined to end in disappointment and finger-pointing, much like their Euro 2024 collapse. If insanity is doing the same thing over and over again expecting different results, then Martinez fits the definition perfectly.

His decision to keep Gonçalo Ramos on the bench for the entire defeat to Spain was completely in line with his selection philosophy: Ronaldo first, everyone else second.

Even though Ramos had come off the bench to score the decisive goal in Portugal’s narrow 2-1 win over Croatia, Martinez never seriously considered starting the 25-year-old ahead of Ronaldo.

Catastrophic campaign

From the moment the former Belgium manager was inexplicably handed control of Portugal’s ‘Golden Generation’, he made it clear Ronaldo was central to his plans. His first act was to travel to Saudi Arabia to inform the ageing superstar that the team would be built around him — despite clear evidence from the 2022 World Cup that Ronaldo could no longer perform at the very top level.

The result was a disastrous Euro 2024, in which Ronaldo took a record-breaking 23 shots without finding the net once.

Martinez should have been dismissed by the Portuguese Football Federation then and there, but the federation’s failure to act ensured another predictable disaster this summer. Ronaldo remained an untouchable passenger, and Portugal’s campaign ended in yet another wreck.

‘I’m back! I’m back!’

The warning signs were there from the start — Portugal opened with a goalless draw against DR Congo.

When Ronaldo scored twice against Uzbekistan, he celebrated by shouting, “I’m back! I’m back!” But he quickly faded again as Portugal struggled against Colombia.

He did finally score his first-ever World Cup knockout goal from the penalty spot against Croatia, but that was his only touch in the box all game. So ineffective was he that even Martinez had to substitute him late on, before Ramos sealed victory with a spectacular header.

‘Trying to kill me for 23 years’

Ronaldo bristled at suggestions that it was time to retire and lashed out at what he perceived as constant criticism.

“I won’t be more or less Cristiano Ronaldo because of winning the World Cup,” he asserted. “I even thank those who criticise me after I turned 40... Criticism helps you grow, so thank you for that.

“Whatever happens, I will leave with a clear conscience — not 100%, but 1,000%, because I gave everything in life and in football. You’ve been trying to kill me for 23 years, but you see it’s pointless. I’ll stop when I decide, not when you decide.”

Ronaldo’s demand for respect is understandable, and his record as one of the greatest goal-scorers ever is beyond debate. Yet, his performances and behaviour over the last three international tournaments have inevitably tarnished his legacy. In the end, his presence did more harm than good during the twilight of his career.

From blessing to burden

Building a team around Ronaldo once made sense. But time caught up with him long ago — since 2022, he’s been more of a burden than a blessing. Portugal’s inability to reach even a semi-final at a major tournament since their Euro 2016 triumph speaks volumes.

Did key figures like Bruno Fernandes underperform at the World Cup? Absolutely. But when an entire group of elite players struggles, the fault lies with the coach and his tactical choices.

There is simply no justification for such a talented Portugal side performing so poorly — not at Euro 2024, and not at the World Cup.

Deserved better

Players like Rúben Dias, Nuno Mendes, Vitinha, João Neves, and Fernandes could all be considered among the best in their positions globally, yet none reached their usual standards. Why? Even Martinez admitted Portugal had a squad capable of winning it all, and after failing, he conceded, “There’s no point in continuing.”

In truth, there was no point hiring him in the first place if his focus was going to be appeasing a superstar instead of building a cohesive team. Martinez’s tenure wasted both time and talent. Bernardo Silva and his teammates deserved stronger leadership — and perhaps Ronaldo did too.

Had he accepted a reduced role, he might have remained a valuable impact substitute. Instead, indulgence led to embarrassment once more on football’s grandest stage.

In that light, Ronaldo’s farewell wasn’t such a tragic day for Portugal after all. While fans remain grateful for his glorious past, his departure ultimately brought a sense of relief.