Beyond Ronaldo: Why Portugal's World Cup Dream Ended Against Spain

Portugal lost the Round of 16 game against Spain. A long-lasting revenge for Spain after losing the Nations League to Portugal. But this game was more than a vengeance for someone. It was the final time Cristiano Ronaldo stepped on the field in the red jersey. With the defeat, the dream and era of one of the finest footballers we have witnessed ended.

But the question is not about Cristiano. The question is why Portugal lost. One of the world's best midfields felt like an easy venture for Spain. The core defense just felt like a sponge in front of the strikers. And finally, the question we all need answered is why Cristiano did not get as many chances as other stars do. A world-class attack with Bruno, Rafael, and João Félix failed to find the net.

A Team Split From Within

The major issue for Portugal was ego clashes. It was visible that there were two groups in Portugal. One side clearly supported Cristiano, along with a few others, and the other opposed him. João Neves's interview is one of the key examples showing how highly CR7 was regarded within the team. For a moment, if we compare Cristiano's Portugal with Messi's Argentina, the difference will be obvious. For sure, Messi is the biggest star on the team with fame and achievements. But what makes Argentina a strong candidate is the combination.

The team revolves around Messi. Social media is flooded with videos where the whole team waits for Messi before entering the field. For sure, Portugal has many better names than Argentina, but what made them weaker were the ego clashes. For obvious reasons, Ronaldo should have been the central figure in Portugal. He is one of the reasons Portugal is supported globally and why the trophy cabinet got filled. But things weren't the way they should have been, despite him being the captain of the team.

No Defined Attacking Identity

Throughout the tournament, things were uncertain for Portugal. The bigger question was who was responsible for scoring. For sure, relying on one player is not possible, but there should be someone responsible for it. For instance, we know that if France is playing, Mbappé or Dembélé have to score. For Norway, Erling should strike. But in the case of Portugal, it was not certain. The attacking face of the team was unclear. Whether it would be Bruno, Ramos, or Bernardo. But one thing was clear: it wasn't Cristiano.

When Ronaldo was in a position to attack, things fell apart. The midfielders and wingers forgot how to pass the ball. Similarly, with other players, things came into form. Somewhere, things were so messed up that it was clearly not in favor of Portugal.

When Tactics Worked Against Portugal

The whole mistake was not by the players. Somewhere, the issue was with the coach. Using a 41-year-old striker for the whole game was the dumbest thing ever. If you don't have any other option, then it makes sense. But if you have options like João Félix, Gonçalo Ramos, and Rafael Leão.

For sure, Ronaldo put pressure on the opponent, but using him for the whole game didn't get the job done. Some reports suggest the coach was just trying to secure a contract in Saudi Arabia. The key for him was Cristiano himself. That's why he was getting more minutes on the field than the other attacking players.

Things were clearly not in favor of Portugal. This resulted in a weak tournament and a disappointing exit from the World Cup. The aftershocks started when Roberto Martínez was removed from his job. His successor is also a question for the federation, as Jorge Jesus will be the new boss. The selection itself is a question of the criteria for the Portugal head coach job. Let's see how this works for them, as the biggest test will be the Nations League group stage, where Norway, Wales, and Denmark are present. The hardest task will be against Norway, as they are now in their finest form.