Cristiano Ronaldo told he cannot play every minute as Portugal eye World Cup glory

Cristiano Ronaldo may remain Portugal’s biggest star, but former Premier League manager Carlos Carvalhal believes the veteran forward must accept a reduced workload if the Selecao are to maximise their chances of winning the 2026 World Cup.

The 41-year-old enters what is expected to be his final World Cup campaign still carrying the hopes of a football-mad nation, but questions continue to surround how Roberto Martinez should manage his talisman throughout the tournament.

Carvalhal urges careful management

Ronaldo’s importance to Portugal is beyond dispute, yet Carvalhal insists the national team cannot afford to rely on him for every minute of every match.

The former Swansea City boss believes strategic substitutions could prove crucial in preserving Ronaldo’s fitness for the latter stages of the competition.

Speaking to Sky Sports, Carvalhal explained: “The physical situation, if you ask me, the coach can manage better Cristiano. Do not play him every minute. Understand that he will be important for the next game.

“Maybe he can play just 60 or 70 minutes. This is the theory. But it is important that Ronaldo understands this.”

Carvalhal added: “In practice, if Ronaldo feels in good condition to play 90 minutes in every game, then he will want to help the team be champions.”

A balancing act for Martinez

Managing Ronaldo has been one of the defining challenges of Roberto Martinez’s reign as Portugal manager.

While the five-time Ballon d’Or winner remains one of the first names on the teamsheet, memories of the 2022 World Cup still linger after Goncalo Ramos was preferred in key knockout matches.

Despite his advancing years, Ronaldo has continued to justify his selection with remarkable consistency, scoring 25 goals in his last 30 international appearances.

Carvalhal believes Portugal’s ultimate objective could persuade the captain to embrace a more measured role.

“The coach knows that Cristiano really wants to do something extraordinary and he wants a lot to be a world champion,” he said.

“The coach knows the influence that he has on other players, how he can push them with his mentality.

“I believe it will not change too much. He is still an important player to Portugal. I am absolutely sure that he will play from the beginning of all the World Cup games.”

Competition increasing within Portugal squad

Portugal’s impressive squad depth means Martinez has more options than ever before.

Following warm-up victories over Chile and Nigeria, the manager emphasised that every member of his 26-man squad remains in contention for a starting place.

That competition could become increasingly important as Portugal attempt to navigate the demanding tournament schedule.

Speaking after the final pre-World Cup friendly, Martinez said: “We used 26 players across two matches and they’re all ready for the World Cup.

“I haven’t finalised the starting eleven yet. We’re very clear about what we want.

“There are plenty of players performing at a high level who can fulfil the same role and do the same job on the pitch.”

One final shot at football immortality

For Ronaldo, the tournament represents one final opportunity to complete the only major achievement missing from his extraordinary career.

Having won the European Championship, Nations League, Champions League and countless domestic honours, lifting the World Cup remains the ultimate prize.

Portugal will continue to rely heavily on their captain’s leadership, goals and experience. However, as Carvalhal suggests, the key to success may not be how much Ronaldo plays, but how wisely his minutes are managed.

If Portugal can strike that balance, the legendary forward could yet script one final chapter in one of football’s greatest careers.