Portugal head coach Roberto Martinez has defended his decision to keep Cristiano Ronaldo on the pitch throughout his team’s 1-1 draw with DR Congo in their opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Portugal took the lead after six minutes through João Neves, but struggled to build on their early advantage.
Yoane Wissa equalized for DR Congo shortly before halftime, and the European side failed to find a winning goal despite controlling most of the possession.
Ronaldo had a quiet game and missed two second-half opportunities, leading some supporters and analysts to question why Martinez did not replace him.
The Portuguese coach said Ronaldo’s experience and movement inside the penalty area remained important in a match where his team needed another goal.
“In a game like this, where it was difficult to enter the penalty area, it was important to use Cristiano’s qualities,” Martinez said.
Martinez argued that removing the leading goalscorer in men’s international football would not have helped Portugal while they were chasing a winner.
“It makes no sense to take off the best goalscorer in world football in a match where we need to score,” he said.
Ronaldo has scored 143 goals in 229 international appearances for Portugal, placing him well ahead of every other player in the history of men’s international football.
