Popular football pundit Geoff Shreeves has suggested that Portugal head coach Roberto Martinez should remove Cristiano Ronaldo from the national team’s starting lineup. Shreeves argued that the Al Nassr forward “no longer have the leg to press” and is offering little contribution to the squad’s overall structure.
He further claimed that the A Selecao lack rhythm, mobility and attacking fluidity whenever the 40-year-old is included on the pitch. Ronaldo currently holds the all-time international records for the most appearances and most goals scored by any player in history, with 143 goals and 46 assists across 226 matches in all competitions.
Portugal recently recorded an emphatic 9-1 victory over Armenia in their latest 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying fixture without Ronaldo, who was unavailable due to suspension after receiving a red card in their 2-0 loss to Ireland.
Shreeves maintained that the national team appeared sharper and more dynamic in Ronaldo’s absence, reigniting discussions about Portugal’s tactical evolution and squad direction ahead of future international fixtures.
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