Cristiano Ronaldo's latest World Cup humbling raises an uncomfortable question for Portugal. Roberto Martinez needs to find his backbone and face facts at this summer's World Cup: Cristiano Ronaldo is a luxury Portugal can no longer afford.
Ronaldo's Burden on Portugal
At the final whistle, he stood alone. Reluctant to shake hands with his own teammates, never mind rivals who had just humbled and humiliated him in Houston. He looked lost and confused before heading down the tunnel, leaving the rest of the Portugal squad to conduct a walk of shame in front of their frustrated supporters.
So much for Bruno Fernandes insisting Portugal were a brotherhood, a squad full of togetherness. Cristiano Ronaldo took to social media a few hours after Portugal's draw with Congo to issue a rallying cry: "This is far from over." But what had gone before smacked of precisely this: the end of a magnificent era.
Questioning Martinez's Leadership
Yet if Ronaldo appears to find himself in a state of confused flummox, imagine how the Portuguese Football Federation must be feeling. Just who is managing this Portugal team might be one question on the lips of president Pedro Proenca. Because it doesn't appear to be Roberto Martinez.
Martinez is expected to stand down at the end of this tournament. At this rate, that feels like one of his more sensible decisions. On the evidence of his side's pitiful performance in the 1-1 draw with DR Congo, perhaps Martinez should step aside now and let Ronaldo become player-manager on a caretaker basis.
Not content with wasting Belgium's golden generation, he now seems to be on a mission to do the same with Portugal's. Martinez is falling on his own sword. The self-inflicted skewering comes from the footballer he is so keen to protect. He is indulging someone who no longer deserves to be.
The Delusion of Indulgence
And the delusion will prove a fatal footballing disaster if Martinez continues to be incapable of having the backbone to stand up to his captain. England had a similar situation with former manager Gareth Southgate and Jude Bellingham. The one basic requirement of a manager at the highest level is to make tough decisions.
Martinez has to embrace the risk of being unpopular if it means doing what is best for the team, as opposed to showing ignorance in the blind belief that no damage is being done to that same side. The chances of Martinez breaking with his own tradition seem slim, however, if his comments on Ronaldo after the game are anything to go by.
"We were finding it difficult because they (Congo) had a back six, and in a situation like that, you can use his (Ronaldo's) qualities," said Martinez.
The Need for Change
If Martinez is going to leave his role, then what has he got to lose? Not the respect he thinks he should deserve, because this is disappearing into the Texan sunset at a rapid rate. Ronaldo will not embrace the truth. He still thinks he is Superman in disguise. But his brain is attempting to write cheques his talent can no longer cash.
Yet it isn't down to Ronaldo to face the facts. A footballer with an ego like his will never allow this to happen. That responsibility falls on the shoulders of one man. And this is the problem: because Martinez cannot be 'man' enough to be brave and bold when it matters most.
