"Bruno Fernandes Should Strike if Ronaldo Isn't Dropped"

Journalist and pundit Angelina Kelly, from British radio station talkSPORT, has argued that Bruno Fernandes should refuse to play for the Portuguese national team unless Cristiano Ronaldo is dropped from the starting XI for the World Cup.

The suggestion comes as Portugal is touted as one of the favorites to lift the trophy, with Bruno Fernandes arriving at the competition as the creative linchpin of Roberto Martínez's squad. This follows a stellar Premier League season with Manchester United, where he clinched major Player of the Year awards.

Despite expectations that 41-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo will lead Portugal's attack, his finishing ability has been a cause for concern. The forward failed to score any goals at Euro 2024 and missed several clear-cut chances in warm-up matches against Chile and Nigeria.

Angelina Kelly expressed her opinion forcefully, stating that Ronaldo's presence is detrimental to the team.

"Ronaldo wasn't up to par in the last Euros, and probably not in the last World Cup either. It's 2026, and he just won't quit," she asserted, adding that some of his misses in the friendly games were "a bit embarrassing."

The pundit also criticized the national coach and the Portuguese Football Federation: "It seems Roberto Martínez has accepted that being Portugal's coach means picking Ronaldo as a prerequisite. The Portuguese Federation is too obsessed with the money train Ronaldo brings. Someone needs to take a stand and put an end to this ridiculousness."

Kelly suggested a drastic measure from one of the team's most influential players: "Bruno Fernandes, one of Portugal's key players and stars, needs to go to Roberto Martínez and say that Ronaldo cannot be in the starting eleven, otherwise he's leaving the team and going home, because Ronaldo is ruining his chances and those of all his teammates to win the World Cup."

It's worth remembering that Cristiano Ronaldo is Portugal's all-time leading scorer, with 143 goals. The national team's World Cup campaign kicks off next Wednesday against DR Congo, followed by matches against debutants Uzbekistan, with Colombia closing out the group stage.