Roberto Martinez Defends Cristiano Ronaldo’s Full 90 Minutes Despite Scoreless Draw Against DR Congo at 2026 World Cup

Portugal head coach Roberto Martinez has pushed back against criticism of his decision to keep Cristiano Ronaldo on the pitch for the full 90 minutes during his side’s 1-1 draw with DR Congo at the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Wednesday.

“It makes no sense to get the best goal scorer in world football out in a game that you need goals,” Martinez said, offering a direct explanation for his refusal to withdraw the Al Nassr forward at any stage of the match.

Despite featuring for the entire game, Ronaldo managed just three shots, none of which were on target — marking the sixth occasion in his World Cup career that he has completed a match without registering a single shot on goal. The result left Portugal with a point from a fixture they had been expected to win.

The stalemate extended what has become a prolonged scoring drought for the 39-year-old in major international competitions. Ronaldo has now gone ten consecutive matches at World Cups and European Championships without scoring from open play. His last non-penalty goal in either tournament dates back to June 19, 2021 — a span of five years that has continued to draw scrutiny from pundits and fans alike.

The draw also represented the fifth straight World Cup match in which Ronaldo has failed to find the net from open play, a run that underscores the broader conversation around his role and effectiveness at the highest level of international football.

Martinez also addressed Portugal’s collective performance, pointing to a drop in intensity following João Neves‘ sixth-minute opener as a key factor in the team’s inability to build on their lead. After Neves gave Portugal an early advantage, the side managed only six more shots for the remainder of the contest — a figure that reflects a significant dip in attacking output.

Despite the underwhelming display, Ronaldo’s place in the history books remains secure. The forward, who holds the record as Portugal’s all-time top scorer with 143 international goals, became only the second player in history to appear at six FIFA World Cups, joining Argentina’s Lionel Messi in that exclusive bracket. His ambition to become the first player to score in six different World Cup tournaments, however, remains unfulfilled after this result.

The Portugal captain’s availability and performance levels have been a recurring talking point throughout the tournament build-up. Former France striker Thierry Henry was among the high-profile voices to weigh in following the DR Congo match, criticising Ronaldo for taking a goalscoring opportunity away from Bruno Fernandes during the contest, according to reports.

Portugal remain in contention to progress from their group but will need a sharper attacking display in their remaining fixtures if they are to go deep into the tournament. The result serves as a reminder of the fine margins at this level, with DR Congo — a side making their mark on the global stage — having demonstrated the ability to contain one of the tournament’s pre-match favourites for long stretches.

Martinez’s public backing of Ronaldo is consistent with the stance he has maintained since taking charge of the national team, having repeatedly emphasised the forward’s importance to the squad’s structure and morale. Whether that loyalty translates into goals in Portugal’s upcoming group stage matches remains to be seen.