"Ronaldo can decide a game, but they have to run for him"

Nani, a European champion with Portugal in 2016, argues that Cristiano Ronaldo should be a starter at the 2026 World Cup. He believes his teammates bear the responsibility of compensating for Ronaldo's reduced defensive output by covering more ground for him.

Portugal's World Cup campaign has been overshadowed by the debate surrounding whether Cristiano Ronaldo, at 41, is an asset or a hindrance to the team. While his two goals against Uzbekistan showcased his enduring quality, his performances in draws against DR Congo and Colombia have raised questions about whether he's limiting the potential of Roberto Martínez's young and talented squad. For Nani, who has known Ronaldo since their teenage years and played alongside him at Manchester United and for the national team, the answer is clear: his teammates must run for him.

"Everyone should be doing their best to connect with Cristiano in this World Cup," Nani stated in an interview with The Athletic during the Portugal Football Summit in Miami. "He's a player who will score goals until the end of this tournament. Believe me."

Nani acknowledges the divided opinions: "Most people want him to play, but some want him out because they think the team loses energy and the ability to press with more intensity. But we can't forget that he's a man who can decide the game and attracts all the attention from defenders."

Nani emphasizes the need for a collective adjustment. "Obviously, he needs to adapt his game to the system the coach creates, and everyone has to understand his movements," he added, concluding that "the only thing is that the players have to run for him."

Ronaldo hasn't missed a single minute of the World Cup, and the idea of benching him seems unthinkable for Roberto Martínez, especially considering the coach plans to step down after the tournament. However, the reality is that when he's not in the attacking third, Portugal effectively plays with nine outfield players, as Ronaldo doesn't track back to defend.

Nani recalls his own experience at Euro 2016, when then-coach Fernando Santos asked him to make that sacrifice. "We need to understand that Brazil will run for Neymar, France for Mbappé, Argentina for Messi. There's no debate in those teams," Nani compared.

"Messi is always walking because he saves energy for when the ball reaches him. He's explosive and at his best in the final third. Ronaldo is the same; it's almost like: Don't waste your energy running 60 meters," he explained. "But Cristiano can't just walk on the field. He doesn't walk much. If the defender has the ball near him, he won't let him go. He runs."

The player, who came out of retirement in January to sign for FC Aktobe in Kazakhstan, remembers a conversation with Fernando Santos before Euro 2016, in which the coach told him he could be the top scorer in the competition, even if it meant running more to compensate for Ronaldo.

"I sacrificed myself for the team," Nani recalled, stating he covered "84 kilometers" during the tournament, "14 kilometers" more than the second-highest player in that metric. "I was one of the team's top scorers. I scored three goals, just like Cristiano, and I kept performing. OK, you lose energy, you don't play beautiful football, but we won."

Nani also downplayed the notion that Ronaldo isn't a popular figure in the dressing room, describing him as one of the most entertaining members of the squad, albeit with two sides: he celebrates effusively in victories but treats defeats as "the end of the world."

"He loves to joke around," said the former Manchester United player. "Sometimes people don't understand the jokes, and it can be intimidating at first if you're young, but then you realize he just wants to make you feel comfortable and part of the team."

Nani, the former Portuguese international, heaped praise on several national team players, highlighting Nuno Mendes, whom he considers one of the best defenders in the world.

"It's incredible how he plays. The energy, the calmness, the power – he's such a talented player. Sometimes it seems like he's tired and can't give any more, but then suddenly he produces a moment of magic, with great strength and energy, and he can shoot or cross," Nani affirmed.

The former winger didn't stop there, also commending the quality of Portugal's midfield. "But it's not just him. We have fantastic players who play beautiful football. I love Vitinha and the way he controls the game," he added.

Regarding Bruno Fernandes, Nani acknowledges that the midfielder hasn't yet replicated his Manchester United performances for the national team, which, in his opinion, explains some fans' frustration. "That's why people are a bit frustrated with him," he noted.

When asked if Roberto Martínez's system or Cristiano Ronaldo's importance might be affecting Bruno Fernandes's performance, Nani was emphatic: "It has nothing to do with Cristiano."

The former player drew a clear distinction between club and international football, using his own example. "Club football is one thing, the national team is another. For many years, for example, I performed well for the national team because I had freedom, and when I was at Manchester, my game wasn't always fluid," he recalled.

Nani believes, however, that the Manchester United midfielder will eventually show his true value. "Fortunately, he has the opportunity to play every game, so I'm 100% sure he will show his best," he guaranteed.

For Nani, the main difference lies in the role Bruno Fernandes plays in each team: "Bruno is more about the final touches, and at Manchester, every ball has to go through him. He's at the center of everything, so what Vitinha is doing now is what Bruno does at Manchester. That's why it's difficult for him to play his game," Nani detailed, suggesting a solution to maximize the midfielder's potential: playing him closer to Cristiano Ronaldo.