.jpg)
1 hour ago
3
Cristiano Ronaldo has bookended a two-goal game at this 2026 FIFA World Cup with two near-invisible outings.
Portugal has yet to take him off the field, though -- which is weird no matter how good Ronaldo has been playing.
ESPN's Mark Ogden wrote this stat after Portugal's 0-0 draw with Colombia on Saturday: Ronaldo has played more minutes than any other outfield player at this World Cup.
Ronaldo, if you hadn't noticed, is 41 years old.
What is Portugal doing?
MORE: With Messi, history and magic go hand in hand
If Ronaldo was pounding in goals left and right, he would've been able to be subbed off with comfortable leads.
Since he's not, though, wouldn't you think about subbing him off?
For whatever reason, Portugal is running Ronaldo ragged.
Although to be fair, Ronaldo isn't exactly running himself ragged. He takes plenty of moments off, but maybe in part because he knows he isn't going to be subbed off. It's a totally bizarre circumstance.
"We all know that Ronaldo is freakishly fit for a player in his 40s," Ogden writes. "He has always been the perfect example of the rewards of dedication and professionalism, but he's 41. No amount of ice baths or personally curated diets can change that or roll back the effects of the aging process, so even Ronaldo needs to manage his minutes. But (Roberto) Martínez won't, or can't, bring himself to rest his star player, and the end result is that nobody wins. The Portugal coach insisted that Ronaldo can deliver no matter how much he plays, though."
Portugal has a super deep roster. It makes perfect sense to give Ronaldo at least a bit of a breather in favor of great talent off the bench.
That has yet to happen, though, and it's going to be a tricky, looming narrative for as deep as Portugal goes in this World Cup.
English (US)