French football legend Thierry Henry has provided a notable analysis regarding the reasons why Cristiano Ronaldo is struggling in the Portugal national team jersey at the 2026 World Cup.
Portugal’s journey did not start as expected, as they only managed to secure a 1-1 draw against DR Congo. Ronaldo had a deeply disappointing game, failing to score and repeatedly showing his frustration on the pitch.
The Al Nassr striker is aiming to become the first player to score in six different World Cups. He opened his account at the planet’s biggest tournament back at the 2006 World Cup when he was just 21 years old. At the age of 41, Ronaldo still possesses an impressive scoring rate with 973 goals for club and country, including 143 goals for Portugal. However, Henry believes that the superstar’s overwhelming desire to score has negatively impacted the team’s collective play.
Analyzing a specific situation on the FOX broadcast, Henry stated that Ronaldo made an unreasonable movement decision inside the penalty area. Instead of rushing into the six-yard box to stretch the opponent’s defense and open up space for his teammates, he ran right into the space that Bruno Fernandes was exploiting. Henry commented: “The important thing is that the team needs to score, not just that you need to score.”
According to the former Arsenal striker, if Ronaldo had made his run in the right direction, the opposing defenders would have been forced to mark him, thereby creating conditions for Bruno Fernandes or other attackers to have more shooting opportunities. Instead, Ronaldo’s excessive focus on scoring himself made the situation predictable for the opponents.
Henry’s remarks raise questions about Ronaldo’s role in coach Roberto Martinez’s system. Although Portugal is still highly rated in the race for the top spot in the group against their remaining opponents, Uzbekistan and Colombia, pressure is mounting on them due to their disadvantageous opening day.
It is not ruled out that Martinez will consider adjusting his personnel in the upcoming matches. One option mentioned is using Goncalo Ramos in the center-forward role to help the attack operate more smoothly and with better connection. That previously happened at the 2022 World Cup.
Henry’s assessment shows that Ronaldo’s problem right now does not lie in his finishing ability, but in balancing his desire to establish personal milestones with the tactical requirements and collective interests of the Portugal national team.
