Cristiano Ronaldo Urged to Step Down From Portugal by Former FC Barcelona Player
Cristiano Ronaldo has spent more than two decades rewriting soccer history, collecting records and reaching milestones few players could imagine. But after Portugal's opening match at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, one former international believes the next chapter of Ronaldo's career should look very different.
Following Portugal's 1-1 draw against the Democratic Republic of Congo in their Group K opener, former Ghana international Kevin-Prince Boateng suggested Ronaldo should consider stepping away from a leading role and allow Portugal's younger generation to take over.
"Ronaldo, if he would be a real team player, he would step down and let the young players flow because Portugal is a better side without him," Boateng said on the SBS Sport panel, where he currently works as an analyst. The former Ghanaian international believes Ronaldo adds too much pressure when he's in the middle because everyone wants to play the ball to him.
Is it the end for Ronaldo?
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Kevin-Prince Boateng gives his thoughts on Ronaldo and how he can be best used for Portugal's success.
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Boateng understands what it means to play with great players like the Portuguese star, referring to his time at FC Barcelona where he played alongside Lionel Messi. "I understand that I've played with great players like that. You always want to focus and let him score." He then praised Ronaldo for his achievements in the sport while also questioning whether his priorities are with Portugal or individual records.
Boateng said, "I know he's after records. He broke all of them. We were huge fans of him." The analyst reiterated that Ronaldo should step down from the starting lineup and come in during the final 15-20 minutes to get better results individually as well as for the national side.
Boateng, who is two years younger than 41-year-old Ronaldo, ended by saying, "At the end of the day, we're coming to an age where we can't perform like that anymore. And that age arrived with him." After starting against DR Congo, Ronaldo became the oldest outfield player to start a World Cup match. He also joined his biggest rival Messi as the only players to feature in six different World Cups.
The Portuguese star had the chance to make further history by becoming the first player to score in six different editions of the tournament. Ronaldo came closer to achieving that milestone in the 68th and 73rd minutes but missed both opportunities. He only managed to get 25 touches during the entire 90 minutes.
Nevertheless, Portugal has the chance to bounce back stronger in their next game against Uzbekistan on June 23 before finishing their final group stage match against Colombia. Ronaldo will have another opportunity to redeem himself before Boateng and other analysts continue to urge him to step down.
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This story was originally published June 18, 2026 at 8:51 AM.