“You’ve got that problem” - Gabby Agbonlahor warns Portugal about calling up Cristiano Ronaldo for 2026 FIFA World Cup
Gabby Agbonlahor has warned Portugal of the potential perils of taking Cristiano Ronaldo to the 2026 FIFA World Cup. As it stands, it is the only major trophy missing from the five-time Ballon d'Or winner's cabinet.
The 2022 World Cup was billed as Ronaldo's potential swansong in international football's most prestigious competition. Portugal were dumped out by Morocco in the quarter-finals by a 1-0 margin, and the video of a teary-eyed Ronaldo walking back to the dressing room quickly went viral.
Many thought it was Ronaldo's last match in the World Cup, but now, there is a chance that he could be playing in the 2026 edition in North America. Agbonlahor, for one, thinks the 39-year-old will want to make Portugal's squad for the grand event.
The former Aston Villa striker said on TalkSPORT:
"Ronaldo will want to go to the World Cup, he’s not just carrying on to play the Nations League. The end goal is retiring at the World Cup.
“But if I’m [Roberto] Martinez I’m like ‘ugh, it’s the Ronaldo show again’. He’s already said I don’t want to be a bench player. He said if he’s in the squad he wants to be a starter. You’ve got that problem. It’s a hard one for the manager because is Ronaldo as big as Portugal?"
Ronaldo was surprisingly dropped to the bench by Fernando Santos for both of Portugal's knockout games at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in favor of Goncalo Ramos. The latter bagged a hat-trick in the 6-1 last-16 win against Switzerland before his team were eliminated by Morocco.
A matchday 1 strike in the 3-2 group-stage win against Ghana was the only goal contribution Ronaldo managed in Qatar.
Gabby Agbonlahor highlights Cristiano Ronaldo's poor 2024 Euros showing
Right before Gabby Agbonlahor warned Roberto Martinez about picking Cristiano Ronaldo for the 2026 World Cup, he brought up the forward's poor showing at the 2024 Euros. He started in each of their five games in Germany this summer but was evidently unimpressive, failing to score a single goal.
Some have pointed out the defensive frailties of having Ronaldo in the squad while others have argued that Portugal should give a chance to younger talent over him. Slamming his performances at the Euros and suggesting that he cost his team a deep run in the competition, Agbonlahor said, via the aforementioned source:
"If you watched him [Cristiano Ronaldo] in the Euros, we forget don’t we, that he didn’t do anything. He probably hindered other players being played. I think him playing that many games probably cost Portugal.
“I know people will say that’s harsh and it’s not his fault, but you know, you had your time. You’ve still got what it takes, but have you got what it takes at the highest level anymore? There’s a reason why he’s playing in Saudi Arabia, there’s a reason why he got let go at Manchester United, there’s a reason why he’s not playing in Europe."
Portugal were eliminated in the quarterfinals at the hands of France, who won 5-3 on penalties after the game ended 0-0 in regulation time. Ronaldo, however, has continued to represent his team after the 2024 Euros and recently became the first male player in history to score 900 career goals.
The Al-Nassr superstar did so in his team's 2-1 UEFA Nations League group-stage win against Croatia on September 5. It was his 131st international goal in 213 appearances — both world records in men's football.