The Seleccao are already through to the last 16 in Germany, but their declining poster boy has offered very little to the cause

“That is a pure moment of Portuguese football. That is an example that should be shown in every academy in Portugal and in the world of football, that the team is the most important thing. That assist probably means more than scoring any goal.”

Roberto Martinez could hardly have been more effusive in his praise for Cristiano Ronaldo after seeing the Portugal striker set up Bruno Fernandes to score against Turkey on Saturday. Martinez described Ronaldo’s pass across the box as “spectacular”, as Fernandes was left with the simple task of tapping into an empty net, but there was nothing difficult about it.

It’s possible that Martinez was trying to take the focus away from the fact Ronaldo didn’t just shoot himself after being played through one-on-one with Turkey goalkeeper Altay Bayindir. It was the kind of chance that the prime version of Portugal’s favourite son would have gobbled up ruthlessly.

Ronaldo has now recorded the joint-highest number of assists in European Championship history, but goals have always been his motivation. It was a genuine shock to see him pick out Fernandes instead of going for glory, and his apprehension indicates that for the first time ever, self-doubt has crept into his game.

That is understandable for a player who is now approaching the ripe old age of 40. The problem is, Martinez is still insisting that Ronaldo must be Portugal’s main man, and completely ignoring all the signs suggesting he is no longer up to the task.

Clear signs of decline.

Ronaldo is currently enduring his worst-ever barren run in World Cup and European Championship competition. The Al-Nassr man hasn’t scored in any of his last six major tournament outings, having also drawn a blank in Portugal’s unconvincing 2-1 win over the Czech Republic on matchday one.

No player recorded more shots than Ronaldo in the first two matches at Euro 2024 (nine), but that’s not to say he is getting into good scoring positions. He’s actually only got an expected goals (xG) total of 1.11, and has only made two runs into the attacking third. Even on the few occasions Ronaldo has attempted to take on his man with a stepover or drop of the shoulder, he’s looked far too stiff, and defenders have had an easy time stopping him in his tracks.

The likes of Fernandes, Bernardo Silva and Raphael Leao have almost played around Ronaldo, who has appeared content to have minimal involvement in Portugal’s build-up play. That would be fine if he was still a master poacher, but age has caught up with him, and it’s impossible to escape the feeling that the Seleccao are failing to reach their full potential because Ronaldo is still starting every game.

Diogo Jota, Goncalo Ramos and Joao Felix have all been waiting on the bench for a chance to shine, and it must be frustrating for all of them to see Ronaldo being given preferential treatment purely on his past achievements. He’s not Portugal’s game-changer anymore, which Martinez needs to realise quickly if he is to take the team all the way to the final.