Former Manchester United midfielder Nicky Butt has described Cristiano Ronaldo as a 'problem' for Portugal manager Roberto Martinez following a disappointing start to the World Cup. Portugal opened their campaign with a 1-1 draw against DR Congo, with Ronaldo, now 41, failing to make an impact in his sixth World Cup appearance.
Ronaldo's Performance Under Scrutiny
Ronaldo played the full match but struggled to influence the game, drawing criticism from pundits who suggested his presence hindered the team's performance. Portugal took an early lead but could not hold on, with Yoane Wissa equalising for DR Congo. The result leaves Martinez with a significant selection decision ahead of their next match against Uzbekistan.
Despite his legendary status, Ronaldo has not scored in his last 10 appearances at major tournaments. Butt, who played alongside Ronaldo at Manchester United, believes the forward's reputation puts Martinez in a difficult position.
Butt's Comments on Ronaldo's Role
Speaking to Paddy Power, Butt said: 'Cristiano is a superstar, one of the best ever. You look in the stadium, almost every Portuguese fan had a Ronaldo 7 shirt. He is a god there. But he is causing a problem, definitely 100 per cent, no one can deny it.'
Butt added: 'The minute Martinez brings Ronaldo to the tournament, he has to play him. He cannot sit him on the bench unless they had a prior discussion. It is a horrible place for Martinez to be. I feel sorry for him because you have a player who has been fantastic, the god of the country, and you may need to leave him out.'
Comparison with Other Star Forwards
Former Manchester United striker Louis Saha has also suggested Ronaldo should accept a reduced role. However, Butt believes Ronaldo's ego will make that difficult. 'I know Cristiano, I know his ego. He will be raging right now. Lionel Messi scored a hat-trick, Kylian Mbappe scored two, Harry Kane scored two, Erling Haaland scored two. All the big forwards scored, and he hasn't. He will take that as a personal insult.'
Butt warned that if Portugal are struggling in the next game, Martinez must be prepared to substitute Ronaldo. 'If they reach 60 minutes and are not winning, he will have to bring him off. I would not want to be in Martinez's position because he cannot win.'
Portugal's Squad Options
Portugal's midfield in the opener featured PSG duo Joao Neves and Vitinha, with Bruno Fernandes, Pedro Neto, and Bernardo Silva in advanced roles. Potential replacements for Ronaldo include PSG striker Goncalo Ramos and Al-Nassr's Joao Felix. Portugal are in Group K alongside Colombia, DR Congo, and Uzbekistan, currently sitting third after Colombia's 3-1 win over Uzbekistan.
