Will Cristiano Ronaldo play for Portugal vs Uzbekistan in FIFA World Cup?

Portugal and Uzbekistan are facing each other for the first time at the FIFA World Cup.

One of the players playing in their last World Cup is Cristiano Ronaldo. The Portuguese attacker has been one of the top names in world football for almost two decades, and he’s continuing his consistency currently in the Saudi Pro League.

However, the 41-year-old is currently under pressure because his peers have had a great start in the ongoing World Cup. Lionel Messi has scored five goals in two matches, while Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland have found the back of the net four times in the same number of games. Harry Kane also scored twice in England’s 4-2 win over Croatia on Matchday 1.

However, Ronaldo struggled to settle his feet against a side that returned to the global stage after 54 long years. Portugal played a 1-1 draw against the Democratic Republic of Congo on MD 1.

While Cristiano Ronaldo was blamed for Seleção das Quinas’s lacklustre performance against the Leopards, Roberto Martinez’s pragmatic style of high pressing and maintaining greater possession also limited the 41-year-old from creating enough attacking opportunities.

However, at the Houston Stadium, they are all set to lock horns against World Cup debutants Uzbekistan. But the question here is whether Cristiano Ronaldo will play tonight.

Also Read: Portugal predicted lineup vs Uzbekistan for FIFA World Cup 2026

Will Cristiano Ronaldo start tonight in the FIFA World Cup against Uzbekistan?

Before Portugal’s second clash of the ongoing summer competition, Roberto Martinez was asked if Cristiano Ronaldo would start for the Seleção das Quinas against Uzbekistan on Tuesday. Instead of giving a clear reply, Martinez swept the question under the carpet by claiming he had not informed his players of it. He said:

“I can’t inform you about the starting 11 because I haven’t informed my players. We are playing a World Cup, so of course we have a lot of noise and tension, but it’s part of the game. The focus is on the team, and we want to show a positive attitude … to be ready for the match. We are very much focused. We are strong. The team is even more united than before.”

Despite not giving a clear reply to the question in the pre-match press conference, Martinez did not let go of a chance to laud the Al-Nassr attacker. The Spanish technician claimed that Ronaldo’s experience is important for the Portuguese side in the summer competition, and he’s a role model for other players in the delegation.

“He’s an example, as a captain. And he’s reacted as a captain, with a lot of experience. He wants to contribute, and he’s a role model for our team. He’s probably the biggest example of how to recover, how to train. But that doesn’t take away the feeling of frustration we all have, as a team.”

Amid all the speculation, Cristiano Ronaldo is likely to be part of Roberto Martinez’s starting line-up against Uzbekistan.

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