Saha urges Portugal to bench Ronaldo after flat World Cup 2026 opener against DR Congo

Cristiano Ronaldo was a peripheral figure as Portugal were held to a 1-1 draw by DR Congo in their World Cup 2026 opener on Wednesday, and former Manchester United teammate Louis Saha has warned that Roberto Martínez must be prepared to leave the 41-year-old on the bench if Portugal are to go deep in the tournament.

Ronaldo failed to score for the tenth successive match in major tournaments, a run that has drawn sharp criticism from fellow Frenchman Thierry Henry, who suggested the Portugal captain prioritises personal goal-scoring records over the collective good. Saha, who played alongside Ronaldo during his first spell at Old Trafford before leaving for Everton in 2008, echoed that concern.

“Cristiano Ronaldo needs to be saved from himself, because Cristiano is always going to be in competition with Haaland, Mbappé, and Messi,” Saha said. “He wants to play every minute to break records, that’s his mentality and we understand that. But I think he also understands that Portugal needs a high tempo.”

Saha, now 47, acknowledged Ronaldo’s fitness remains impressive but argued the demands of a tournament campaign will inevitably test even the most dedicated veteran. “They want to press and have the energy level at the very top, that will involve making changes,” he added. “Sometimes he has provided a solution for that.”

Drawing a parallel with Kylian Mbappé’s own struggles in tournament football, Saha suggested Ronaldo is capable of the same kind of within-game recovery — but only if the manager is willing to manage his minutes honestly. “The focus on him is hard for the manager. Sometimes he will have to answer unnecessary questions and sometimes you will have to bench Cristiano to allow him to go all the way in this competition.”

Saha and Ronaldo shared a dressing room for four years at Old Trafford. After leaving United, Saha went on to represent Everton, Tottenham, Sunderland, and Lazio before retiring in 2013. He has since built a significant business career, co-founding sports agency AxisStars alongside marketing expert Kate Hamer.

For Portugal, the dropped points against DR Congo mean there is already pressure heading into their remaining group-stage fixtures, with Ronaldo’s role — starter, impact substitute, or something in between — set to remain the central question around the squad.