Read 3 minutes23 June 2026 11:10 AM IST
The pressure to perform has increased on Cristiano Ronaldo after his long-time rival Lionel Messi scored twice against Austria on Monday night to support Argentina’s first-round hat-trick. Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland also showed up with braces of their own for France and Norway respectively, as they qualified for the round of 32 on Tuesday.
Portugal and Ronaldo, however, have enjoyed a good start to their Group K opener last week in a 1-1 draw against DR Congo. The 41-year-old will be in the news when Portugal play Uzbekistan on Tuesday night in Houston. However, whether Ronaldo will start on or off the field remains under wraps as Portugal coach Roberto Martinez refuses to confirm his position.
“I can’t inform you about the starting 11 because I haven’t informed my players,” Martinez said on Monday when asked if Ronaldo would remain in the lineup.
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Despite mounting criticism, Martinez said Portugal had come together as a group after Congo’s early shock.
“We’re playing the World Cup so of course we have a lot of noise and stress, but that’s part of the game,” he said. “The focus is on the team and we want to show a positive attitude … to be ready for the match. We are very focused. We are strong. The team is more united than before.”
Praise for Ronaldo’s bounceback ability
Despite remaining silent on Ronaldo’s condition for the second game, Martinez continued to support the goal-scoring talisman who has failed to strike for the national team since October 2025.
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“He’s an example as a captain,” Martinez said. “And he has responded with a lot of experience as a captain.
“He wants to contribute and is a role model for our team.”
“That’s probably the biggest example of how to get better, how to train,” Martinez said, “but that doesn’t take away from the frustration we all have as a team.”
Locked in with a solitary point, a defeat or another draw could threaten Portugal’s qualification for the Round of 32, with much riding on the pairing of Ronaldo and Martinez on Tuesday night.