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Portugal's president, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, believes Cristiano Ronaldo must be feeling sorry for himself after he missed out during their impressive 9-1 win over Armenia due to suspension. Despite this, Rebelo de Sousa reckons Ronaldo will always have a place in A Selecao's XI.
Ronaldo was given his marching orders during Portugal's 2-0 loss against Ireland during their World Cup qualifier after he elbowed Dara O'Shea on November 13. As a result, the 40-year-old was suspended ahead of the Armenia clash in the last round of the qualifiers.
Despite this, Portugal delivered a brilliant performance, securing a dominant 9-1 win. Joao Neves and Bruno Fernandes netted a hat-trick each, while Renato Veiga, Goncalo Ramos, and Chico Conceicao also featured on the scoresheet.
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Following the game, Rebelo de Sousa was asked if he would start Cristiano Ronaldo if he were in Roberto Martinez's shoes, to which the former replied (via O Jogo):
"Ronaldo always has a place. It's a shame he didn't come today. He must be terribly sorry for missing a game that deserved the captain's presence."
Cristiano Ronaldo's one-game suspension for Portugal could potentially be upgraded to three due to the nature of the foul. This would see him miss his side's opening two games at the 2026 FIFA World Cup next summer. A UEFA disciplinary committee will decide the Al-Nassr ace's fate in the coming days.
"We have an endless amount of talent" - Portugal's Prime Minister provides his verdict on Cristiano Ronaldo's future in the national team
Portugal's Prime Minister, Luis Montenegro, believes Cristiano Ronaldo still has an integral role to play for A Selecao ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. However, he reckons Roberto Martinez will have a selection headache due to the vast array of talent the latter has at his disposal.
After witnessing the Portugal national team secure their qualification for the World Cup following their 9-1 win over Armenia, Montenegro told RTP (via O Jogo):
"With him [Ronaldo]. I think he still has a role to play in this final phase, but the coach will decide. We have a group of players who offer the coach a huge range of possibilities, and he has a huge headache trying to choose a starting eleven and manage the players' comings and goings throughout the game."
He added:
"We have an endless amount of talent, and the country will be much more optimistic today. When the final phase begins, the entire Portuguese nation will be very happy and united around one of the strongest elements of our identity, of our Portuguese spirit, which is our national football team."
Cristiano Ronaldo has helped A Selecao find success in recent months. He scored eight goals in nine appearances, helping his nation win the 2025 Nations League. Moreover, he has also recorded five goals in five appearances during the recent World Cup qualifiers.
