For more than two decades, Cristiano Ronaldo has done what few athletes in any sport have managed: he has outrun time itself.
He has survived tactical revolutions, managerial changes and the rise and fall of multiple football generations. While contemporaries retired and new stars emerged, Ronaldo remained. At 41, the Portuguese captain arrived at the FIFA World Cup 2026 still wearing the same iconic No. 7 shirt and still carrying the expectations of an entire nation.
But after Portugal’s opening 1-1 draw against DR Congo, the conversation surrounding one of football’s greatest-ever players has shifted.
It is no longer about records.
It is about whether Portugal can still win the World Cup with Cristiano Ronaldo at the centre of their plans.
On paper, Portugal’s opening match was far from disastrous.
The European side dominated possession, controlled large stretches of the contest and took an early lead through João Neves. Against a DR Congo team making its first World Cup appearance in decades, Portugal appeared to be cruising towards three points.
Yet football often punishes teams that fail to convert control into goals.
As the match progressed, Portugal struggled to create meaningful opportunities despite enjoying the majority of possession. Their attacks frequently slowed in the final third, allowing DR Congo to remain organised and disciplined.
The African side gradually grew in confidence before finding a deserved equaliser through Yoane Wissa.
By full-time, the mood around the two teams could not have been more different.
DR Congo celebrated a valuable point against one of Europe’s traditional football powers. Portugal, meanwhile, walked off the pitch with questions that extended far beyond a single group-stage result.
It would be unfair to place responsibility for the draw solely on Ronaldo.
Portugal’s midfield lacked urgency at crucial moments. Their attackers were often disconnected. Their finishing left much to be desired.
Yet when a team is built around a global icon, scrutiny naturally follows him.
This World Cup marks Ronaldo’s sixth appearance at football’s biggest tournament — a record unmatched in the men’s game. It is a remarkable achievement and another chapter in a career that has repeatedly defied expectations.
However, longevity can create challenges of its own.
The attributes that once made Ronaldo virtually unstoppable have inevitably changed. The explosive acceleration that terrified defenders is no longer as devastating. The relentless pressing and constant movement demanded by modern football are not natural strengths at this stage of his career.
Portugal therefore find themselves balancing two competing realities.
On one hand, Ronaldo remains their captain, leader and most recognisable figure. On the other, they possess a younger generation of players capable of playing a quicker, more fluid style that reflects the direction in which elite football has evolved.
The question is no longer whether Ronaldo deserves his place in Portugal’s football history.
That debate was settled long ago.
The question is whether Portugal can build their future while still centring their present around him.
The challenge facing Portugal is not purely tactical.
Ronaldo’s significance extends far beyond goals and statistics.
For many Portuguese supporters, he represents the greatest sporting figure the country has ever produced. He transformed Portugal from a nation known for producing talented footballers into one consistently regarded among the sport’s elite powers.
From European Championship glory in 2016 to countless unforgettable moments in major tournaments, Ronaldo has become deeply woven into Portugal’s national identity.
That emotional connection makes any discussion about reducing his role particularly sensitive.
Few countries have ever faced a similar situation.
How do you move beyond the greatest player in your history when he is still available, still influential and still capable of producing moments of brilliance?
There is no easy answer.
The debate inevitably invites comparisons with Ronaldo’s long-time rival, Lionel Messi.
For more than fifteen years, football’s greatest individual rivalry has shaped discussions across the sport. Even as both players approach the final stages of their careers, the comparisons continue.
Argentina appear to have found a balance that allows Messi to remain influential without becoming the sole focal point of the team. The squad functions collectively while still benefiting from the moments of quality that only Messi can provide.
Portugal are still searching for a similar formula.
Their challenge is to honour Ronaldo’s legacy while ensuring that the team is not restricted by it.
Whether they can achieve that balance may ultimately determine how far they progress in this tournament.
One draw does not decide a World Cup campaign.
Portugal remains a strong contender to advance from their group and possesses enough quality across the squad to compete with any nation in the tournament. Ronaldo himself has built a career on proving doubters wrong and producing decisive moments when expectations begin to fade.
It would be foolish to rule out another memorable chapter.
Yet the opening match against DR Congo has highlighted a reality that Portugal can no longer avoid.
This may be Ronaldo’s final World Cup.
And for perhaps the first time in his extraordinary career, the central question is not about what Cristiano Ronaldo can achieve individually.
It is about whether Portugal can become world champions while still building their team around him.
The next two group-stage matches may offer the first clues.
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