The National Team and Ronaldo: Neither Heroes nor Villains

The national team secured its first victory of the 2026 World Cup with a resounding win over Uzbekistan, allowing for a collective sigh of relief. We're not here to lecture anyone; we know all too well that in just six days, you can go from heroes to villains—and back again. It's a trait that might be very Portuguese, or perhaps common to all who live and breathe football with an intensity that can be detrimental to one's health. There's little rationality in it, and if there were, it certainly wouldn't be as entertaining.

Uzbekistan proved to be the perfect opponent to mend the relationship between the team and its fans and to quiet the critics, even if few conclusions for a tournament of this magnitude can be drawn from such a one-sided match. However, it was a good sign that an early goal, this time, didn't cause anyone to take their foot off the gas. The on-field character was also much more pronounced, a crucial factor for upcoming matches against stronger opposition (and they are coming...).

Cristiano Ronaldo is back, in his own words. He was the last of the major stars to arrive at the World Cup but is right on time to break a few records (though, of course, it's always worth stressing that's not the most important thing). This isn't new, and it will likely remain this way until the end: the captain doesn't flinch at criticism; in fact, he seems to thrive on it, making a point to show up when the fans (and now the bots) need him most.

The performance against DR Congo was so collectively absurd that it was unfair to place Cristiano at the center of the storm. Similarly, the euphoria surrounding his two goals now is probably an overreaction, but that's just how the world works, and we're all part of it.

I would be very surprised if this World Cup doesn't have more ups and downs for Portugal, as well as for Ronaldo. What is certain is that we spend far too much time discussing the management of a 41-year-old player accustomed to the rhythm (or lack thereof) of Saudi Arabian football. Roberto Martínez has never misled anyone, and yesterday's 90 minutes were further proof that sometimes he'll be right and other times he'll be wrong, but he will always stand by Cristiano.

The match against Colombia is just three days away, and we will see if the team's improvements against Uzbekistan will carry over. For now, the world has been reminded that Portugal—and Cristiano—still exist. If doubts were weighing heavily before, the key now will be to avoid overconfidence after this rout. It's the classic 'one game at a time' approach, as much as that might be the football cliché that irritates me the most.