Why Portugal’s reliance on Cristiano Ronaldo has cost it dearly

HAMBURG, Germany — Cristiano Ronaldo stood among his teammates, hands on hips, lips pursed, eyes fixed on the Portuguese crowd behind the goal.

Ruben Dias and Nuno Mendes, the warriors who beat French star Kylian Mbappe, both led the applause. Ronaldo joined them and then turned to Pepe, his sidekick in so many battles, his older brother who faced his recall at the age of 41. Pepe sobbed, Ronaldo whispered in his ear.

At that moment, Ronaldo looked like any other Portugal teammate, united by disappointment. He didn’t look like GOAT candidate Cristiano Ronaldo. And maybe if Portugal coach Roberto Martinez had realized that sooner, we’d have a different story.

It seemed that Martinez – by playing Ronaldo for every minute of every game in this tournament (except the final 25 minutes against Georgia) – was more concerned with giving him opportunity after opportunity to write another glorious chapter in his glittering career than with giving Portugal the best possible chance of winning.

The numbers are cold and unforgiving. Ronaldo has taken 23 shots in this tournament, the second-highest number of missed shots by a Euro player since the group stage was introduced in 1980. His goal expectancy of 3.51 without finding the net is the highest at a major men’s tournament since 1980.

Maybe Martinez looked at that, remembered that Ronaldo had scored in every major tournament he played in (five World Cups and five Euros) and thought, “Hey, he’s definitely worthy of that name.” If that’s what happened, he’s like the guy who bets on the Washington Generals to beat the Harlem Globetrotters because “he’s worthy of that name.”

Yes, Ronaldo was coming off a prolific season in the Saudi Pro League and yes, regression to the mean is one thing and it is entirely possible that over time he has caught up with his xG. But that is the key: time. It is a knockout tournament, you stumble and there is no tomorrow. And even the GOATs have dry spells.

And it’s not just the numbers, it’s what Martinez’s eyes and brain were telling him (or should have been telling him).

Yes, he had built a structure around Ronaldo that maximized his strengths and masked his weaknesses as best he could. Rafael Leão, on the left wing, stayed high when Portugal defended, so there was always a sprinter to “get the ball out” if necessary. Bruno Fernandes had the freedom to dart into the box, almost like a second striker. Bernardo Silva and João Cancelo delivered crosses from the right. Even the corner kicks, with Pepe and Ronaldo immobilizing the opposing center-backs, seemed designed for him.

It worked in qualifying, and even against France for a good part of the game (although that may have had a lot to do with Didier Deschamps’ conservatism), as Portugal created the better chances. But at some point, Martinez must have realised how much Ronaldo’s lack of mobility off the ball was straining his midfield, and how many chances he was failing to convert.

Ronaldo may have understood the situation, too. Early in the first half of extra time, Francisco Conceição outran an opponent and crossed back for him at the near post. A young Ronaldo would have calmly collected the ball and guided it into the top corner. The old Ronaldo would have sent it over the bar.

Moments later, he launched into a pressing run of his own, drawing energy from the space and rushing to Dayot Upamecano, who pushed him back and kicked the ball. In the past, Ronaldo would have gotten the ball before Upamecano, gone around him and fired the ball out of Mike Maignan’s reach. And in the unlikely event that they had arrived at the same time, it would have been Upamecano who bounced off him, not the other way around.

But to quote Slim Charles from “The Wire”: “The thing about the good old days is…they’re the good old days.”

The strange thing is that this boil had already been lanced. Ronaldo had been left out of the last 16 by Martinez’s predecessor, Fernando Santos, at the World Cup in Qatar just 18 months ago. If Santos, who had coached Portugal for eight years, including Ronaldo’s best years, who had backstopped him to victory in his first (and only) major tournament at Euro 2016 (with Ronaldo, who had gone off injured in the final, standing by his side like an assistant coach) could do it, why not Martinez?

Especially considering Martinez’s background. He’s not Portuguese and didn’t grow up with the “Ronaldo the Savior” drama. He’s an intelligent coach with a proven track record as a player and manager. He was brought in from the outside to offer a fresh perspective.

Instead, he came across as a guy who had drunk the Kool-Aid. On a night when Portugal were the better team – and Martinez should be commended, too, because he outplayed Deschamps and his usual counter-attacking prowess – it seemed as if Martinez intended not only to overtake France, but to do so with Ronaldo in a leading role.

Did he not trust Gonçalo Ramos or Diogo Jota to replace him, even for a short period? Did he want to make up for the missed penalty and the missed opportunity at the end of the match against Slovenia? If so, it only makes things worse.

Partly because that game against Slovenia (and Ronaldo’s 120 minutes) should have been a sign of what fatigue can do to a 39-year-old. And mostly because Ronaldo doesn’t need anyone to give him anything (let alone a chance to redeem himself). With all he’s accomplished, he’s way beyond that.

Did he expect Ronaldo to wave to the bench and say, “Boss, I’m exhausted, I can’t do this today, let’s make a change?” That would be an illusion. Elite athletes thrive on self-belief and self-belief. Ronaldo spits it out of every pore. To expect him to retire from the game is just plain stupid.

However, Mbappe, who scored his first European Championship goal against Poland from the penalty spot, asked to be substituted after feeling too tired to continue during extra time.

Portugal are not out of the Euros because Ronaldo played 120 minutes. Let’s be clear. They lost on penalties because João Félix hit the post and everyone else scored. And because they failed to capitalise on the many chances they created, from Leão in the first half to Fernandes and Vitinha after the break, to Mendes at the very end of extra time.

But the way they are leaving this Euro leaves a bitter taste and the strong impression that Martinez has tunnel vision, believing that putting Ronaldo front and centre would somehow preserve his legacy.

Ronaldo’s legacy is secure. It doesn’t need to be preserved. Maybe if Martinez had understood this earlier, maybe if he had seen him as just another player – as he did at the end, applauding the fans and consoling his teammates – Portugal would be in the semi-finals.