Nicky Butt warns Ronaldo is 'causing a problem' for Martinez as Portugal stumble at World Cup

Cristiano Ronaldo’s underwhelming performance in Portugal’s World Cup opener against DR Congo has intensified scrutiny on manager Roberto Martinez, with former Manchester United teammate Nicky Butt arguing that the 41-year-old forward is “causing a problem” for the national side.

Portugal were held to a draw after Yoane Wissa cancelled out their early lead, leaving Martinez facing a significant selection dilemma ahead of Tuesday’s group game against Uzbekistan. Ronaldo played the full match but struggled to impose himself, and has now gone 10 major tournament appearances without a goal.

“Cristiano’s a superstar, he’s one of the best that has ever lived,” Butt told Paddy Power. “You look in the stadium, pretty much every Portuguese had a ‘Ronaldo 7’ on their shirt. He’s a god there. But he’s causing a problem, definitely 100 per cent, no one can say he isn’t.”

Butt, who played alongside Ronaldo at Old Trafford, believes Martinez was effectively cornered the moment he included the veteran in his squad. “The minute he brings Ronaldo to the tournament he has to play him,” Butt said. “He can’t sit him on the bench unless he had a discussion with him beforehand and said ‘You’re not starting, you’re coming on and you’re going to impact the game.’ It’s a horrible place for Roberto Martinez to be in — I feel sorry for him because you’ve got a player who has been a fantastic footballer, he’s the god of the country and you’re going to need to leave him out.”

Former United striker Louis Saha has similarly called for Ronaldo to accept a reduced role, but Butt doubts the five-time Ballon d’Or winner will see it that way — and suggested the wider context will only have sharpened Ronaldo’s competitive edge.

“I know Cristiano, I know his ego, I know how he lives and he’ll be raging right now,” Butt said. “The fact that Lionel Messi scored a hat-trick, Kylian Mbappé scored two, Harry Kane scored two, Erling Haaland scored two — all the big forwards have scored and he hasn’t. He’ll take that as a personal insult and I’m sure he’ll be ready to go in the next game.”

Despite that, Butt maintained that Martinez still faces a defining call. “If you look away from Cristiano Ronaldo, I don’t know any player that can play centre forward at 41 at that level — it just doesn’t happen. He’s been a phenomenal footballer but age catches up with everybody. The manager has a big decision in the next game if he doesn’t perform, a massive one.”