Emmanuel Petit: Portugal Players Not Playing for Ronaldo — That’s Why Messi Is Dominating the 2026 World Cup

Emmanuel Petit, the former France international and ex-Arsenal midfielder, has offered a blunt assessment of why Cristiano Ronaldo is being outshone by Lionel Messi at the 2026 FIFA World Cup — and his conclusion centres not on individual ability, but on collective commitment.

Speaking on the How To Win The World Cup podcast on talkSPORT, Petit was direct in his analysis: “Argentina… the players they play for Messi. I think the Portuguese players, they don’t play for Cristiano Ronaldo. For me, this is the main difference with Argentina and Messi. So, it’s up to Martinez, the manager, to manage that.”

The remarks from the 1998 World Cup winner arrive in the context of a tournament where the two greatest players of their generation are delivering starkly contrasting performances. Messi, 38, has already etched his name further into World Cup history by scoring his first-ever hat-trick at the tournament, coming against Algeria in Argentina’s group stage campaign. Ronaldo, 41, meanwhile endured a difficult outing in Portugal’s opening match against DR Congo, failing to register a meaningful contribution across 90 minutes on the pitch.

Petit is not alone in his assessment. A growing chorus of former professionals and supporters have raised concerns about Ronaldo’s impact within the Portugal setup, with France forward Michael Olise also publicly stating that Ronaldo is no longer Portugal’s most important player at this tournament. The scrutiny on the Al-Nassr striker has intensified with each passing game, as questions mount over whether Portugal’s collective structure is being shaped around or inhibited by his presence.

Portugal head coach Roberto Martinez has moved to defend his captain publicly, pointing to Ronaldo’s historic goal-scoring record as evidence that the forward’s quality remains beyond question. Ronaldo is expected to retain his starting berth when Portugal face Uzbekistan in their second Group H fixture, giving Martinez an opportunity to recalibrate the team’s performance and address the dynamics Petit has identified.

The contrast between the two camps is arguably most visible in how their respective squads function as units. Argentina, under coach Lionel Scaloni, have constructed a system in which Messi operates as the central figure of a cohesive collective — a structure that yielded a FIFA World Cup title in Qatar 2022. Portugal, by comparison, have at times appeared to lack the same degree of organisational clarity in how their attacking play is built and for whom it is ultimately designed.

Petit’s comments carry weight given his experience at the highest level of international football. A key figure in France’s 1998 World Cup triumph on home soil — where he scored in the final against Brazil — as well as the side’s UEFA Euro 2000 victory, the 55-year-old has direct experience of how squad unity and collective purpose translate into tournament success.

With the 2026 FIFA World Cup being co-hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico — the first edition to feature 48 nations — the expanded format means both Argentina and Portugal still have significant football ahead of them. However, if Petit’s reading of Portugal’s internal dynamics proves accurate, Martinez faces a pressing challenge to resolve the issue before the stakes grow even higher in the knockout rounds.