Portugal’s meltdown has been spectacular in the wake of their World Cup last-16 exit to neighbours Spain.
The Iberians were dumped out cruelly as Arsenal’s Mikel Merino came off the bench to score a stoppage-time winner – but many felt Portugal had only themselves to blame.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s sixth World Cup ended in tears and intense criticism, manager Roberto Martinez has resigned, and Ruben Dias stormed out of a post-match interview.
‘Cristiano Ronaldo: we don’t want to ‘kill’ you, but enough is enough,’ wrote newspaper A Bola.
‘It’s time for Cristiano Ronaldo to step aside because, as we’ve already realised, his ego doesn’t allow him to be substituted for a player who, nowadays, delivers unparalleled performance.
‘What this World Cup would have been like without the unhealthy obligation of having Cristiano Ronaldo on the field 90/90/90 will forever remain unknown, and not even Donald Trump can reverse this elimination.’
Cristiano Ronaldo’s ‘ego’ was blasted by the Portuguese press after their World Cup exit
Record’s front page read: ‘Selecao concedes goal in stoppage time and is eliminated. It’s over’ while A Bola said ‘Adios’ to Roberto Martinez and ‘Ola’ to Jorge Jesus
O Jogo said ‘See you at home’ in their headline while for Correro: ‘The Portuguese dream died on the beach’
Ronaldo started all of Portugal’s five matches and was only taken off in one, late on in the previous round against Croatia.
While he did contribute three goals – and is now the only man to have scored at six World Cups, as well as Portugal’s top scorer ever in the competition – he has been persistently panned for his perceived lack of effort.
While in-form replacement Goncalo Ramos was left on the bench, Ronaldo, 41, often lingered in offside positions, failed to press defenders, and contributed little defensively.
‘He’s waddling around the field like a grandad, that’s why Portugal are out,’ said Chris Sutton on BBC Radio 5 Live.
‘Cristiano Ronaldo does nothing; he did nothing. What is Roberto Martinez doing? How can you pander to a player so much? Portugal are out because of Roberto Martinez.’
Sutton also tweeted: ‘Roberto Martinez is an embarrassment. Goncalo Ramos stays on the bench. Ronaldo does what he wants… again! Portugal were a freak show… a circus. Martinez so weak.’
Ronaldo broke down in tears at full-time before leaving down the tunnel with his head bowed. While his international football career may continue, this is his last World Cup. When the next rolls around in 2030, he will be 45.
‘I’m sad to be leaving the World Cup like this,’ he said. ‘I gave it my all. I did my best and I’m leaving with a clear conscience. It was my last World Cup, yes, but I’ll now have time to reflect and be with my family. I won’t be making any rash decisions.
Manager Roberto Martinez was called an ’embarrassment’ and ‘weak’, a man who ‘smiled while the house burned’
Ruben Dias walked out of his post-match interview, not even answering a question
Dias, who used to be in a relationship with Maya Jama, was upset to exit the World Cup
‘I played 23 years in the national team and won three titles. Before Cristiano, Portugal had not won anything. The Euros was the most important. For me, 2016 has the same dimension as a World Cup, honestly.’
In a game of very few clear-cut opportunities, Ronaldo left the World Cup stage for the last time on the most depressing of notes.
Portugal’s faded force touched the ball just 19 times in 96 minutes, the fewest of any starting player by some distance, before shedding tears after his country’s elimination signaled the end of his dream to win one of the only trophies that has eluded him in his illustrious career.
After Ramos’ dramatic winner against Croatia in the last 32, Martinez had an unenviable decision to make at the pinpoint of his attack: either unleash his fresher, more in-form striker – who was averaging a goal or assist every 37 minutes at World Cups heading into Monday’s game – or stick with Portugal’s captain, their national icon, for what could be one last rodeo in Texas.
The former option probably made the most logical sense, but Martinez avoided the daunting task of having to tell Ronaldo he would not be starting his potential last ever World Cup match.
While Ronaldo’s performances have earned scrutiny, the apparent spinelessness of Martinez in pandering to him has called into question his suitability as a manager.
Martinez enters the job market after a decade in international football with Belgium and Portugal, both middling spells which saw him fail to capitalise on the talents at his disposal.
He did come third with Belgium at the 2018 World Cup, hardly a bad showing, and won the 2024-25 Nations League title with Portugal.
Portugal were branded a ‘freak show’ and a ‘circus of horrors’ after losing to Spain
Ronaldo remains an elevated figure in Portugal – some fans held aloft an image showing him as a saint
Jorge Jesus is being reported as his impending replacement. The 71-year-old has vast experience in club football and won three league titles as manager of Benfica. Interestingly, his last post was with Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia.
A Bola tore into their outgoing manager, writing: ‘The culprit has two names: Roberto Martinez.
‘Roberto Martinez’s cycle will, thankfully, come to an end without brilliance or glory… Roberto Martinez proved to be a timid coach, incapable of taking charge of the game, and with a roundabout discourse.
‘Not fielding Goncalo Ramos in a game where Portugal was repeatedly pushed back by Spain in the second half was the icing on the cake of Roberto Martínez’s circus of horrors.
‘Martinez is a diplomat chosen by the Portuguese Football Federation to avoid making waves and smiling while the house burns.’
Meanwhile, Correio da Manha wrote: ‘Portugal was at a disadvantage. Martinez made substitutions based on his personal bestseller list and lacked the nerve to take risks. Yes, he lacked courage and ideas to try something new that Portugal’s game demanded.
‘The dream died on the beach, and it didn’t have to be this way.’
Martinez’s last job in club football was with Everton between 2013 and 2016. Overall, he did a good job in English football with Swansea, Wigan, and the Toffees – let’s not forget his 2013 FA Cup victory with the middle outfit – but he also has a relegation on his CV and is accused of being too nice.
Supporters felt that Portugal had wasted a golden generation, not unlike their 2006 team
The frustration rippled through the press, through the streets, through homes across the nation, and of course through the Portuguese team.
Ruben Dias, who readers will know for his achievements with Manchester City, or his high-profile former relationship with Maya Jama, stormed out of his interview.
He was vexed that matchwinner Merino was speaking nearby and left without answering a question.
Eventually, Nelson Semedo emerged after an hour and answered three questions.
Portugal got unlucky in some respects. Arguably the best full-back in the world, Nuno Mendes, had to come off injured after shackling Lamine Yamal well.
Ultimately, it is a tale of what could have been for Portugal, and the fingers are largely pointed at Martinez and Ronaldo.
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