Global Star Cristiano Ronaldo (41) Poses Huge Dilemma for Portugal: 'Painful to See Him Like This'

According to Seuntjens, Portugal, with players almost exclusively from the world's biggest clubs, possesses all the qualities for high-pressing football, though he notes two exceptions. "Ronaldo and Bruno Fernandes. You'd prefer an explosive striker, and if you don't have that, you want a number ten who increases the stress factor for the opposing central defenders. With Ronaldo and Fernandes, that becomes difficult. With Goncalo Ramos, I think it will work much better."

Sportnieuws.nl host Damian Vlottes then poses the question of whether the 41-year-old star player should be sacrificed. "That's a huge dilemma, of course, because Ronaldo still has enormous status. However, if you look at it objectively, it would be better for the team's balance to take him out. This way, it just doesn't quite click," Maaskant responds.

Seuntjens remains a bit more cautious when it comes to benching the Portuguese superstar. "I find that difficult because I still enjoy his presence. Ronaldo has done so well in his career, but now you wonder: does he still add something to this team? He's reaching an age where the system has to be perfectly aligned…"

According to football pundit Aron Kattenpoel Oude Heerink, the match against Congo was disappointing for Ronaldo on all fronts. "His statistics were truly painful: zero shots on target, zero chances created, zero successful dribbles, and he only touched the ball 25 times throughout the entire game," he enumerates.

Seuntjens believes national coach Roberto Martínez almost has no choice but to intervene. "Again, I think it will work better with Ramos and Fernandes," says the 37-year-old Lommel SK striker. Former coach Maaskant primarily feels that Portugal should have anticipated this situation earlier. "I also believe Portugal is better off without him, but then you should have agreed upon that beforehand."

"You should have sat down with Ronaldo and, at the same time, expressed your respect for everything he has done for the country. Then you need to make it clear that his role is changing." Seuntjens, however, questions whether that was feasible. "If you don't start Ronaldo against Congo, then who do you start him against?" the analyst wonders.

In the new Sportnieuws.nl World Cup Football Podcast, Maaskant, along with Seuntjens and football pundit Aron Kattenpoel Oude Heerink, discuss the latest developments surrounding the World Cup. Topics include the striker who, according to the gentlemen, is becoming the tournament's sensation, the painful situation surrounding Cristiano Ronaldo with Portugal, and the urgent advice to Rafael van der Vaart after his apologies on national television.

Additionally, the gentlemen discuss the support Lionel Messi is receiving from Dutch quarters after all the commotion and look ahead to a potentially significant advantage for the Netherlands at the World Cup. Listen to a new episode every day at 7:30 AM on your favorite podcast platform.

• The latest news about the World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

• Check the match schedule here, with fixtures, results, and standings.

• Find everything about the Dutch national team here, from news and remarkable stories to statistics.

• Watch and listen to our daily World Cup football podcast.

• If you don't want to miss anything, download our Sportnieuws.nl App.