Cristiano Ronaldo: We don't want to 'kill' you, but enough is enough

Leaving Gonçalo Ramos on the bench, especially in a game where Portugal was consistently pushed back by Spain in the second half, was the final flourish in Roberto Martínez's circus of horrors. Martínez, a 'diplomat' chosen by the Portuguese Football Federation to avoid rocking the boat and to smile while the house burned, made a questionable call. In World Cup matches, the now AC Milan forward boasts an impressive average of a goal or assist every 37 minutes on the field. In Arlington, who knows if he wouldn't have replicated his heroics against Croatia, like Bernardo Silva's header right at the final whistle?

The FPF's arrogance and hubris filled countless pages and fueled the enthusiasm of millions of Portuguese over recent years: 'This World Cup is ours,' 'Portugal will win it all,' 'We've never seen a midfield of this caliber in the national team's history,' 'Cristiano Ronaldo will silence all his detractors of 23 years,' and 'Diogo Jota will be proud to see what his teammates are doing for him.' Yet, in five World Cup matches, Portugal delivered two absolutely dismal performances against DR Congo and Colombia. It was clear then that despite an abundance of individual talent, the team simply wasn't gelling.

And the culprit has two names: Roberto Martínez. His obsession with maintaining the status quo of CR7 and Bruno Fernandes – the latter a far cry from the player voted the Premier League's best just a couple of months ago! – has now left Portugal in tears. If this is truly the best generation ever, then Miguel, Ricardo Carvalho, Petit, Tiago, Deco, Maniche, Costinha, Luís Figo, Simão Sabrosa, Nuno Gomes, or Fernando Meira – to name just a few who genuinely honored Portugal on the World Cup stage (2006) – deserve an apology.

The argument that Spain is the reigning European champion, and therefore, being eliminated from the World Cup by our Iberian neighbors is no disgrace, holds some weight. However, this confrontation could have been avoided if the national team hadn't been so lackluster in the match against Colombia. A win there would have secured first place in the group and relatively easier knockout stage opponents: Ghana in the Round of 16, followed by Switzerland in the quarterfinals.

It's time, once and for all, to turn the page. Roberto Martínez's tenure will, thankfully, conclude without brilliance or glory, leaving behind a bland Nations League campaign overshadowed by the disappointments in the Euros and this World Cup. Martínez proved to be a timid coach, incapable of taking control of games, and with a penchant for diplomatic rhetoric. Before the World Cup, in an interview with RTP, he claimed to strongly believe in the numerology of six. Well, he was eliminated on the 6th, by a goal from Spain's number 6. Football in 2026 has no room for such beliefs, and Portugal cannot be entrusted to them when it boasts a squad brimming with players who, at their clubs (and only there), are among the best in the world.

The imminent arrival of Jorge Jesus to replace the Spaniard must be the catalyst for action, allowing Portugal to finally become the powerhouse we all envision. While a shake-up on the bench is mandatory, changes on the field are equally crucial. It's time for Cristiano Ronaldo to step aside because, as we've seen, his ego prevents him from being a substitute for a player who, currently, offers incomparable performance. What this World Cup would have been like without the unhealthy obligation of having Cristiano Ronaldo on the field for 90/90/90 minutes will forever remain unknown, and not even Donald Trump can reverse this elimination.

Jorge Jesus will inherit a hot potato, and we won't have to wait long to see the results: the Nations League kicks off at the end of September, with matches against Wales and Norway.