Houston, we have several problems (and Ronaldo is just one of them)

For months, even years, the narrative was one of supreme confidence: the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Mexico, and Canada was ours for the taking. After all, we have the world's best players, starring for Europe's top clubs, nearly all at their peak and with one last shot at World Cup glory. Portugal was a sure bet. At least, until the ball started rolling. Pedro Proença demands nothing less than bringing the trophy home, while Roberto Martínez now claims the national team doesn't even need to win the World Cup, just play well, and that the constant talk of being favorites is more disruptive than helpful. Who would have thought? The problem is, with the Spaniard as coach, even playing well has become harder than finding water in the desert.

The depressing 1-1 draw against the DR Congo was a major wake-up call. It's a good thing it happened so early in the competition, as there's still time to fix what is going so wrong. What's needed is the courage to do so, namely by taking Cristiano Ronaldo aside and making him understand, once and for all, that the team is now better without him on the pitch.

Time is an unbeatable opponent, and the numbers that made CR7 the greatest player in Portugal's history are now cruel: the forward hasn't scored in 10 games in the final stages of a European Championship or World Cup. Along the way, he has faced opponents of a much lower caliber than Portugal, such as South Korea, Switzerland (where his replacement, Gonçalo Ramos, scored a hat-trick), Czechia, Slovenia, Turkey, and Georgia. There's no way around it. Keeping Ronaldo on the field at this point will only prolong the agony of waiting for something that no longer exists and fuel the drama from his sisters. The past is behind us; it's glorious and can never be erased, but it doesn't score goals or provide assists anymore. Enough is enough.

It would be bad enough if the opening match had only exposed Cristiano as the sole issue, but the problem runs much deeper and won't be solved by holding hands and having faith. Portugal needs much more from Nuno Mendes, Vitinha, Bruno Fernandes, and Bernardo Silva — what's the idea of playing him on the wing at this stage of his career? — to even dream. This World Cup is full of surprises, football is more balanced than ever, and the days when European teams could underestimate opponents from other continents are long gone. Action and swift changes are needed, or the 'Portugal will win' mantra risks becoming a dark chapter in the national team's history.