Ronaldo Not Helping Portugal’s Attack – Agbonlahor Sparks Debate Ahead Of World Cup Clash

According to Ireporter Online, former Aston Villa captain Gabriel Agbonlahor has advised Portugal head coach Roberto Martinez to consider dropping Cristiano Ronaldo from the starting lineup ahead of their upcoming World Cup fixture against Uzbekistan.

Agbonlahor made the comments during an appearance on talkSPORT, where he reacted to criticism of Ronaldo’s performance in Portugal’s recent match against DR Congo. He argued that the Portugal captain is no longer operating at his peak level and that the team should not persist with him when he is unable to influence games effectively.

He stated that Portugal possess enough attacking depth to begin matches without relying heavily on the veteran forward, suggesting that alternative options could be more effective in the starting XI. However, he added that if Martinez still chooses to start Ronaldo, he should not hesitate to substitute him early if the game plan is not working, proposing a change around the 55th to 60th minute.

Agbonlahor further claimed that Ronaldo’s current style of play is limiting Portugal’s attacking rhythm, saying the forward often drops too deep and struggles to hold up the ball or operate effectively in advanced positions. He also insisted that, in his view, “CR7 is past his best,” while maintaining that reputation may still be influencing his role within the national team setup.

He went on to suggest that Ronaldo’s long-standing rivalry with Argentina captain Lionel Messi may be contributing to his continued drive to remain central to Portugal’s plans, referencing Messi’s World Cup success as a possible motivating factor.

Ronaldo, Portugal’s all-time top scorer, remains a central figure in the squad and is expected to continue drawing attention as the team progresses through the tournament.