World Cup 2026: Time to bench Cristiano Ronaldo as 'last dance' nears?

Cristiano Ronaldo approached the big debate head on as he spoke to the media before Portugal's World Cup last-16 tie against Spain on Monday (20:00 BST).

The 41-year-old, who again confirmed this would be his last World Cup, has divided opinion with his performances at the tournament, with three goals to his name but some ineffectual performances.

But, when asked on Sunday about his future and recent criticisms, he replied: "I'm not doing too bad.

"You have been trying to kill me for the past 23 years, but you must have seen that is not worth it, it's a waste of time, but you try and try and try and try and try.

"As I said before, [I will stop] when I choose, not when you choose. You always ask the same question.

"This will be my last World Cup, but let's hope tomorrow isn't my last game."

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Seven months from turning 42, Ronaldo's time as captain, leader and inspiration of the 2016 European champions is drawing to a close.

The five-time Champions League winner has always said that this would be his final World Cup while, before last week's last-32 gamne with Croatia in Toronto, Ronaldo's sister stated this tournament would be his "last dance"., external

When Ivan Perisic put Croatia ahead in the 53rd minute, it looked as though his 232nd appearance for his country could be his very last.

He equalised from the penalty spot, his first goal in the knockout stages of the World Cup, before head coach Roberto Martinez made the decision to bring the national icon off.

Ronaldo looked unhappy as he walked off but it proved a shrewd move as substitute Goncalo Ramos, seen as a natural replacement for Ronaldo, sent Portugal through in a chaotic finish.

Now there are questions about whether Ronaldo should start against Spain in Texas.

Ronaldo, who was applauded out of the press conference, added: "I am not going to be more Cristiano Ronaldo or less because I win the World Cup.

"I even say thanks for the attacks I feel after I turned 40... the criticism is how you grow, so thank you for doing this.

"Whatever happens tomorrow, Cristiano Ronaldo will leave with a clear conscience -- not 100% but 1,000% because in life and football I gave everything."

Ronaldo - the all-time leading scorer in international football with 146 goals - has reinvented Portuguese football, transforming its mentality like no player before him.

At his previous five World Cups, he has arrived with an untouchable status yet calls for him to take a step back and play a lesser role on the pitch are growing.

"He doesn't play to win, he plays to be the main figure," argued Antonio Simoes, a member of the Portugal side who finished third at the 1966 World Cup.

"Do you understand that it's the opposite of Eusebio? Let's call things by their name. I have nothing against him. I can still see, I can still hear and I can still think. But I can't run away from the reality of the facts."

Having found the net three times in the United States and Canada, Ronaldo has now scored at all six World Cups he has played in.

A penalty against Iran in 2006 was followed by a goal against North Korea in Cape Town four years later. His only goal at the 2014 World Cup was against Ghana in Brasilia.

Then came a hat-trick against Spain in a group stage match in Sochi in 2018 followed, five days later, by the winner against Morocco in Moscow.

Ronaldo's only goal in Qatar in 2022 was a penalty against Ghana. Before scoring from the spot against Croatia last week, he scored two in a 5-0 win over Uzbekistan in Houston on 23 June.

"His leadership and that work in the final third is still one of the best in the world," said Martinez, when asked about his decision to continue to start Ronaldo.

Since Martinez took over in 2023 after leaving his previous role as Belgium head coach, Ronaldo has featured in 36 of Portugal's 44 games, with most of his absences coming through injury or suspension.

Portugal recorded their biggest win of the cycle in one of those matches when Ronaldo was not involved - a 9-0 drubbing of Luxembourg in Faro in September 2023.

Their second-biggest victory, a 9-1 over Armenia in Porto last November, also came without Ronaldo.

Unsurprisingly, after both games, discussions over whether the team play better without their captain quickly returned - but fans continue to worship the player "who made us dream".

Ronaldo's World Cup career has so far been a bizarre black mark on an otherwise glittering two decades.

In six World Cups, he has yet to score from 30 non-penalty shots in knockout matches. His only goal came from the spot against Croatia in Portugal's last match.

His stats do not make for great reading at this tournament so far either, despite being his team's top scorer with three goals.

He has had 15 shots so far, which is almost twice as many as any of his team-mates, though he has yet to create a chance. It is the highest number of shots of any player yet to create a chance at this World Cup.

In three of Portugal's four matches, Ronaldo has had fewer than 25 touches - albeit one of those from the bench - which are his lowest number of touches in any World Cup match in his career. He is averaging his lowest amount of touches per match at any World Cup he has played in.

In the dramatic win against Croatia, his only touch in the opposition box was the winning penalty.

In terms of his running stats, he is averaging only 4.4 runs in behind the defence per match, significantly lower than at the past two World Cups where he was utilised in a similar position as the lone striker.

Yet many Portugal fans believe the player who has brought so much joy to the country has earned the right to remain a regular starter.

"I feel he should dictate whether he wants to stay on or not," supporter Angelo told BBC Sport before the Croatia match. "What he has done for Portugal as a nation, he should dictate that 100%."

Will Martinez start Ronaldo against Spain, for what could be his last appearance on the World Cup stage? Or will he reward Ramos for his winner against Croatia with a starting place?

Global icon, national treasure. Adulation follows the superstar from Madeira wherever he goes.

Twenty-three years after making his senior debut for Portugal, any thoughts Ronaldo-mania might be fading have been dispelled at this World Cup.

In Toronto, it was genuinely rarer to see a Portugal shirt without his name on the back.

Before Portugal played Croatia, excitement spilled on to the roads, with fans briefly bringing one of the Canadian city's main highways to a standstill to try to catch a glimpse of Ronaldo.

My taxi driver taking me from the airport to my hotel was not a football fan - but knew Ronaldo was in town.

"The local TV and radio have been going nuts about him for days," he said. "He must be special."

One local said she had spent an entire month's wages to buy a ticket for the match so she could see one of the greats with her own eyes at a World Cup.

The Portugal fans I spoke to before the game were beaming with pride and adulation for the player who "helped put Portugal on the map".

"On the world stage we didn't really have anyone after Eusebio," fan Joao said. "Ronaldo came in and made us dream."

Fellow supporter Lucilia added: "People talk about Portugal because of him. He doesn't forget where he's from, he remembers the people. I love him. Ronaldo means more to Portugal than any politician."

Diana said she was braced for the day Ronaldo announced his international retirement.

"Of course I'm going to be sad," she added. "The whole world will be sad because it doesn't matter who you support. Ronaldo has had a wonderful career and been an exemplary player.

"I would say to him: 'Well done, Cristiano. Enjoy your retirement. You deserve it after entertaining the world.'"