‎Is Portugal Better With Or Without Cristiano Ronaldo? Breaking Down The Debate

‎The November international break has reignited a debate that simply refuses to go away: Is Portugal actually better with or without Cristiano Ronaldo?

‎After Ronaldo’s red card in the 2-0 loss to the Republic of Ireland and the team’s stunning 9-1 demolition of Armenia days later, the football world is once again split.

‎It’s a question that has hovered over Portugal for years and remarkably, even at 40 years old, the conversation is still very much alive.

‎The Incident That Sparked the Latest Debate

‎Ronaldo’s straight red card for swinging an elbow at Dara O’Shea against Ireland forced him out of Portugal’s final match of the November break.

‎He left the national camp and flew back to Saudi Arabia, while his teammates responded by tearing apart a significantly weaker Armenia side in Lisbon.

‎The timing of the huge win without their legendary number seven naturally fueled the narrative: Could Portugal be more fluid and more unpredictable without Ronaldo?

‎It sounds bold but this isn’t the first time it’s been asked.

‎Ronaldo by the Numbers

‎On an individual level, Ronaldo’s statistics remain nearly untouchable. He has 143 international goals, the most in men’s football history, and 37 assists.

‎He has made 226 appearances for Portugal and scored goals in five World Cups.

‎He is one of the two most iconic players of his generation. Even without a cabinet full of international trophies, Ronaldo is universally recognised as one of the greatest players to ever play the game.

‎It’s almost unthinkable that some fans believe Portugal should consider dropping him ahead of his record sixth World Cup next year. But then again, we’ve been here before most notably in 2022.

‎Qatar 2022 and the Bench Moment

‎During the 2022 World Cup, Ronaldo was benched for Portugal’s quarter-final clash with Morocco after a run of underwhelming performances.

‎Portugal went on to lose 1-0, and many assumed that would mark the end of CR7’s international career. They were wrong.

‎Since then, Ronaldo has rediscovered his scoring touch. Since the 2022 World Cup, he has scored 25 goals in 30 competitive games a return most strikers in their prime can only dream of.

‎Do the Stats Suggest Portugal Plays Better Without Him?

‎Here’s where the debate gets interesting. Portugal has played 36 games since that World Cup.

‎With Ronaldo on the pitch, Portugal’s win percentage is 70%, and they score an average of 2.2 goals per game.

‎Without Ronaldo, the win percentage drops to 66.6%, but Portugal averages 4.8 goals per game.

‎Yes, you read that correctly. When Ronaldo isn’t on the pitch, Portugal scores more than double the number of goals.

‎But here’s the caveat: Ronaldo has only missed six games. And one of those results was the freak 9-0 win over Luxembourg, which skews the average dramatically.

‎Still, it’s notable and mildly surprising that Portugal has now scored nine goals twice without him.

‎What Does Roberto Martínez Think?

‎Martinez will know better than anyone whether his team is better with or without Ronaldo, and it appears he believes the veteran forward still has a very important role to play as the World Cup approaches.

‎Speaking after the win over Armenia, the Spaniard said, “We are better with Ronaldo, Nuno Mendes, and Pedro Neto.

‎“The most important thing is that football is a game of mistakes, of difficulties, of resilience, and when some players aren’t there, we have to find a way to win.

‎“I think the important thing is to have all the important players, but also to have confidence and a clear idea that we can win when certain players aren’t in the starting XI.”

‎If Ronaldo Were Dropped, Who Steps In?

‎Replacing Ronaldo is almost impossible. Portugal has never produced a true conveyor belt of elite number nines their greatest striker ever is Ronaldo.

‎But there are options:

‎1. Gonçalo Ramos

‎The PSG forward has impressed whenever given a chance, scoring and assisting against Armenia. He has 10 goals in 22 caps and presents a more traditional striker profile.

‎He’s still raw, but he fits Martínez’s tactical structure well.

‎2. Rafael Leão

‎One of the most gifted players in Europe, but also one of the most inconsistent.

‎He’s more comfortable on the wing, not as a lone number nine, but his explosive pace and creativity offer unpredictability.

‎Is Portugal a better team with Cristiano Ronaldo? 

‎Not necessarily because he makes them more explosive or unpredictable, but because of the total package he brings: experience, leadership, fear factor, football intelligence, and elite finishing.

‎However, the dramatic increase in goals with him isn’t irrelevant. It emphasises something important: Portugal must prepare for life after Ronaldo.

‎And with Ronaldo confirming that next summer’s World Cup will be his final international tournament, that transition is coming sooner rather than later.

‎Only then will we truly know how good Portugal can be without their greatest ever player.