World Cup 2026: Portugal – their Cristiano Ronaldo problem and Bruno Fernandes solution

For decades, Portugal were international football's great underachievers. That is, if they even made it to the dance at all. Before the turn of the century, Portugal had competed in just four of the 26 major tournaments. To the modern fan, they are a perennial powerhouse. But to the historian, they were once little more than minnows. That narrative shifted on its axis at the turn of the millennium, sparked by a golden generation and fuelled by the relentless, record-breaking ascent of a young man from Madeira. Now, as they prepare for the 2026 World Cup with another golden generation, the expectation is no longer just to participate, but to conquer. The task of navigating this embarrassment of riches falls to Roberto Martinez . The Spaniard has won "brownie points" for his linguistic efforts and a Nations League trophy to boot, but the shadow of Portuguese managerial icon Jose Mourinho looms large, and the debate over a 41-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo threatens to polarise a football-obsessed nation. To understood the mood ahead of the World Cup, our Make Football Great again podcast spoke to Portuguese football expert Tom Kundert, who explains why the country's identity is built on adaptability, why Bruno Fernandes is the true "on-pitch" talisman and why anything less than a semi-final will be deemed a national disaster. Portugal's status as a global heavyweight is a relatively recent phenomenon. "If you look at Portugal's history, before 2000 they had missed 22 major tournaments," Kundert said. "Teenagers today look at Portugal as one of the strongest teams in the world but 30 years ago, you could almost consider them a minnow." The catalyst for this "incredible explosion" was, unsurprisingly, Cristiano Ronaldo. Following in the footsteps of Eusebio and Luis Figo before him, the Manchester United and Real Madrid legend didn't just carry the cultural and footballing mantle - he redefined it. With his relentless drive and remarkable goalscoring exploits, he propelled Portugal onto the global stage, culminating in their historic European Championship triumph in 2016. "Ronaldo triggered this turning point where talent started doing its stuff abroad, especially in the Premier League ," Kundert said. "Today, the country is absolutely football-obsessed. Journalists coming from South America or Italy struggle to think of another country with this much passion. From the lady driving your taxi to the nightly news, football is the dominant fabric of society." The biggest talking point in Portuguese footballing circles is undoubtedly the man wearing the number seven shirt. Despite pushing his mid-40s, Ronaldo is still very much the main man when it comes to the national team. But while his legacy isn't up for debate, his role on the pitch at this year's tournament certainly is - and the discussion has been gathering momentum since Qatar 2022. "A lot of analysts on TV say he is more harmful to Portugal's chances at this stage than helpful," Kundert admits. "He can't press like a younger striker and Martinez insists on playing him every minute. However, you can't argue with his goals tally. He scored in the Nations League semi-final against Germany and the final against Spain. Even at 41, he is absolutely lethal when given the chance." The consensus? He remains the symbol - but perhaps no longer the 90-minute machine. "I think there's a realisation, even from Ronaldo himself, that he can't play every minute of every game in a high-intensity World Cup." If Ronaldo is the symbol, Manchester United's Bruno Fernandes is the engine. He is part of a stacked collection of some of the finest midfielders in the Premier League and Europe, including PSG duo Vitinha and Joao Neves, as well as Manchester City's Bernardo Silva and Tottenham's Joao Palhinha. Then there is a defence built on youth, power and energy, with flying full-backs Nuno Mendes and Joao Cancelo flanking the likes of Ruben Dias, Antonio Silva and Goncalo Inacio in the centre - and a forward line boasting pacey, dynamic talents like Rafael Leao, Pedro Neto, Joao Felix and Francisco Conceicao. However, Kundert is adamant that Portugal's hopes of lifting the trophy rest more on the midfielder's shoulders than anyone else's. "If you ask me who the talisman is in football terms, I'd immediately say Bruno Fernandes," he said. "Portugal can fall into the trap of keeping possession without being penetrative - passing the opposition off the pitch but not creating much. Bruno is the one who isn't afraid to take risks. He has creativity in abundance. If he has a good World Cup, Portugal have a real chance of going far." Roberto Martinez has managed to navigate the treacherous waters of Portuguese media with charm and a quick grasp of the language, but his tactical legacy is still up for debate. Despite leading Belgium to a World Cup semi-final in 2018, his failure to deliver silverware with their golden generation - featuring the likes of Eden Hazard, Kevin De Bruyne, Thibaut Courtois, Vincent Kompany and Romelu Lukaku - is still seen as a missed opportunity. The worry now is that Portugal could be set for the same fate. Despite two strong qualifying campaigns and lifting the Nations League under the Spaniard, the jury is out on whether he can actually turn Portugal into world champions. "His legacy depends on what happens at this World Cup," Kundert warns. "There's a lot of speculation that unless Portugal win it, Martinez won't be the manager anymore. "Jose Mourinho has never hidden the fact that he'd like the shot at the job, and in Portugal, he is still seen as someone who deserves that chance. Martinez is a great communicator, but the pressure of this 'Golden Generation' is immense." While Spain has Tiki-Taka and Brazil has Joga Bonito , Portugal's identity is harder to pin down - and that's exactly the point. According to Kundert, their greatest strength is their "adaptability." "There's not really a set-in-stone way of playing," he explains. "But if you had to define it, it's less about physicality and more about being technically gifted and tactically astute. You see it in midfielders like Vitinha and Bruno Fernandes. You look at their frames and wonder how they are elite athletes, but they are just incredibly intelligent." Beyond the brainpower, Portugal remain a factory for flair. "It's a team of crowd-pleasers. From Figo and Simao to Ronaldo, Nani and Quaresma, the identity is still there today." Portugal find themselves in a group with Colombia , DR Congo, and Uzbekistan. While fans might see a "cakewalk," Kundert warns that history suggests otherwise. "Historically, Portugal struggle when they are landed in an 'easy' group," he says, pointing to the 2002 disaster against the USA and South Korea. "They often thrive more in 'Groups of Death'" - as they did at Euro 2000 when facing England and Germany in the group stage. "Teams that 'park the bus' like Uzbekistan or DR Congo have caused Portugal major problems recently. Anything less than a semi-final will be considered a failure here - the depth is incredible, and players like Bernardo Silva and Bruno Fernandes know this is their last chance at the top of their game." It is a nation that has learned, belatedly but emphatically, how to marry artistry with expectation, flair with steel. And this summer, Portugal will not arrive as hopeful outsiders or romantic dark horses - but as a team fully aware that glory is no longer just something to fantasise about, but something to grab with both hands. Get the latest World Cup news straight to your inbox by signing up to our Make Football Great Again newsletter now!