Swedish football legend Zlatan Ibrahimovic has launched a scathing critique of Cristiano Ronaldo's role in the Portugal national team. This statement follows Portugal's narrow victory over Croatia in the Round of 32 of the 2026 World Cup, which, according to Ibrahimovic, serves as clear evidence of the need for major changes within the team nicknamed the Selecao.
Ibrahimovic argues that Portugal's ambition to win prestigious trophies will be difficult to realize if they continue to rely on the 41-year-old striker. According to him, the decision to keep starting Ronaldo is based more on his star status than his physical performance, which is now deemed to have declined drastically compared to his prime.
A sharp focus was placed on the success of Goncalo Ramos, who scored the winning goal after coming off the bench. For Ibrahimovic, this fact shows that Portugal has fresher and more effective alternatives. He described the team's dependence on Ronaldo as a form of counterproductive nostalgia, where individual ego is seen as holding hostage the collective potential of the team on the pitch.
The match against Croatia itself left plenty of drama, including the controversy surrounding Josko Gvardiol's late disallowed goal following a VAR review. Although Ronaldo scored a goal from the penalty spot, Ibrahimovic insisted that the veteran player's mobility has significantly decreased, causing Portugal to lose the attacking dynamics required in a top-level tournament.
