Cristiano Ronaldo, accustomed to being a regular starter for Portugal, is now willing to sit on the bench if necessary at the 2026 World Cup.
Disagreements arose within the Portuguese national team during the 2022 Qatar tournament after coach Fernando Santos decided to bench Ronaldo in the final two matches. Portugal was then eliminated in the quarterfinals by Morocco.
According to recent reports, Ronaldo is not currently demanding a starting position with the Portuguese national team and sees no problem in being on the bench during the World Cup. He will leave the decision entirely in the hands of Spanish coach Roberto Martinez.
The 41-year-old prioritizes the overall success of the Portuguese national team over his individual success. Therefore, if there is a tactical reason not to start him, he is prepared to remain on the bench until the right moment arrives to enter the field.
Gonzalo Ramos, the Paris Saint-Germain striker, is expected to be Portugal’s main striker at the 2026 World Cup, with Cristiano Ronaldo likely as his first substitute, or the two may generally rotate positions.
It’s worth noting that the 2026 World Cup draw placed Portugal in a group with Uzbekistan, Colombia, and one of the winners of the intercontinental play-offs.
