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Cristiano Ronaldo has been doing this long enough that the criticism is almost routine by now. Every tournament, every slow start, and the calls grow louder.
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At 41, he’s still lining up for Portugal and still producing when it matters, but the debate over whether he’s helping or hurting the team never really goes away.
His Man of the Match performance against Croatia in the Round of 32 and a strong showing against Uzbekistan in the group stage made a case that the concerns are overblown.
When the midfield and wingers get him the ball in the box, Ronaldo delivers. That much hasn’t changed. Still, a section of fans and pundits have been pushing for Goncalo Ramos to take his spot, framing it as a generational handover that’s long overdue.
Not everyone sees it that way.
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Javier Hernandez, Mexico’s all-time leading scorer and one of the most respected voices in the sport, has heard the noise and isn’t buying it.
Hernandez came out in support of Ronaldo this week, making the case that Portugal shouldn’t be thinking about replacing him or working around him. They should be building around what he still offers.
“I think after the first match Portugal played, Cristiano was very criticized that he couldn’t score, and if he was a problem, he shouldn’t start,” Hernandez said via Fox Sports. “Then the second game, they create chances. He had chances. He put the ball in the back of the net. He has 975 goals in his bag. Then at 41 years old, and he does that running behind, getting almost 19 mph. He still can run. He’s not gonna run 20 rolls like that.”
Javier Hernández talks about Ronaldo’s impact on Portugal at this FIFA World Cup @CH14_pic.twitter.com/UtRU0cvm9O
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— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) July 2, 2026
Hernandez even drew a comparison to Lautaro Martinez, who is the central figure at Inter Milan but plays a more defined supporting role when Argentina comes calling. The expectation shifts based on what the team needs.
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Hernandez sees Ronaldo in a similar spot with Portugal, a striker who pulls defenders out of position and punishes any chance that falls his way.
“I hope the current midfield of Portugal can do that. They can realize the player they have in front. So, instead of competing against him, they should use him,” Hernandez added.
There’s a real argument that pairing Ronaldo with Ramos up front could be Portugal’s best option going forward. Rafael Leao’s pace and Francisco Conceicao’s ability on the wings give the attack width and unpredictability.
Bruno Fernandez operating just outside the box and Vitinha controlling the game from a deeper midfield role would give the team structure and creativity at the same time.
Portugal has the pieces. The Spain game will show whether they’ve figured out how to put them together.
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This story was originally published July 3, 2026 at 9:02 AM.