Kevin-Prince Boateng has joined a growing chorus of critics calling for Cristiano Ronaldo to be dropped from Portugal’s starting line-up following the team’s underwhelming 1-1 draw against DR Congo in their 2026 World Cup opener .
The former AC Milan and Barcelona midfielder did not hold back in an interview with Spanish newspaper Mundo Deportivo, suggesting that the 41-year-old captain’s presence in the starting XI is no longer benefiting the national team as it once did .
“Can I be completely honest?” Boateng asked. “If Ronaldo is truly a team player, he needs to step aside and give the young players a chance to shine” .
The Ghanaian, who played alongside Lionel Messi at Barcelona and faced Ronaldo on numerous occasions across European football , argued that the five-time Ballon d’Or winner’s presence creates an unhealthy tactical dynamic. “In my opinion, Portugal becomes a much better team without him,” Boateng stated. “His presence puts an immense amount of pressure on his teammates because everyone feels forced to pass the ball to him. I understand it well—I’ve played with great players of that caliber, and you always end up focusing entirely on helping them score” .
A Role Model No More?
While Boateng insisted he remains a “big fan” of Ronaldo’s achievements, he believes the realities of aging mean head coach Roberto Martínez must use his captain more sparingly if Portugal are to progress deep into the tournament .
“I know he wants to break records, and he has already shattered them. We are all massive fans of his,” Boateng acknowledged. “But if Portugal wants a real chance to go far in this tournament, I believe Ronaldo should step down, let others play, and then come on for the last 15 or 20 minutes to give his absolute best” .
The former Ghana international underlined his point by noting bluntly that the Portuguese icon “is not the same player” anymore . “At the end of the day, we all reach an age where we can no longer deliver the same level of performance. And if we are being completely honest, that age has arrived for Ronaldo,” he added.
Numbers That Tell a Story
Boateng’s criticism comes in the wake of a deeply concerning individual performance from Ronaldo in Portugal’s Group K opener in Houston. Despite making history as the oldest outfield player ever to start a World Cup match at 41 years and 132 days, the Al-Nassr forward delivered a remarkably quiet display .
According to Opta statistics, Ronaldo registered just 25 touches during the 90 minutes—his lowest-ever tally in a major tournament match where he played the full duration . He attempted only three shots, none of which were on target, and had just five touches inside the opposition box . Remarkably, even goalkeeper Diogo Costa had more passes than the Portugal captain .
More worryingly for Portugal, Ronaldo has now gone 10 consecutive matches without scoring in major tournaments—the FIFA World Cup and European Championship combined. Across that barren run, the Portuguese icon has taken 33 shots, with 11 on target, but has failed to find the net even once . His last World Cup goal came on November 24, 2022, when he scored from the penalty spot against Ghana in Qatar .
Déjà Vu from Qatar 2022
The debate echoes the discussions that surrounded Ronaldo during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where Portugal’s best attacking performance came when he was started on the bench against Switzerland—a match in which his replacement, Gonçalo Ramos, scored a hat-trick .
Portugal’s opening match saw them take an early lead through João Neves’ header in the sixth minute, but they struggled to maintain intensity and DR Congo deservedly levelled through Yoane Wissa in first-half stoppage time . A late Joao Cancelo goal was ruled out by VAR for offside, and the European side were fortunate not to lose when Cedric Bakambu struck the post .
The Road Ahead
Despite the mounting criticism, Ronaldo struck a positive tone after the match. Taking to X, the Portugal captain wrote: “It wasn’t the start we wanted, but this is far from over. Head up and focus on the next game” .
Whether Martínez heeds Boateng’s advice remains to be seen. The Spanish coach has consistently named Ronaldo as his first-choice striker throughout his tenure, preferring the veteran ahead of younger options such as Gonçalo Ramos, Rafael Leão, and Francisco Conceição .
But with Portugal already under pressure after dropping points in their opener, and with a squad packed with Champions League-winning talent from Paris Saint-Germain, the question of whether the national team’s talisman has become a tactical burden rather than an asset is unlikely to fade anytime soon .
