Cristiano Ronaldo Got Subbed Out Late. One Analyst Says That Makes Portugal Scarier.

Portugal beat Croatia Thursday night, setting up a Round of 16 matchup against Spain that suddenly feels a lot more complicated than it would have a month ago. And not just because of who scored, but because of who didn’t finish the game.

Cristiano Ronaldo buried a penalty in the 68th minute — his first knockout-stage goal of the tournament — to tie it at 1-1. The stadium erupted. Ten minutes later, manager Roberto Martínez pulled him off for Ruben Neves. That decision, not the goal, became the story.

Nick Wright flagged it immediately on FS1. His read: Portugal is now officially dangerous because Martínez had the guts to sub out Ronaldo in what could have been his last World Cup game. Wright argued the team looked noticeably better with all its best pieces on the field, freed from the pressure to force everything through Ronaldo. Against Spain, he said, Martínez will be even more willing to make that call early if he has to.

The tension here is real. Rondo clearly wants to start. He always has. But if Martínez is willing to bench him late in a knockout game, it raises an uncomfortable question: should Ronaldo come off the bench entirely, start and get pulled, or keep the current setup and risk Martínez losing his nerve? That’s not a small thing to figure out before Spain.

Portugal’s attack looked sharper without him on the pitch Thursday. More fluid. Less predictable. That’s not a knock on Ronaldo’s career — it’s just what the numbers and the eye test both showed. Now that he’s got his knockout goal, the team might not feel the same obligation to feed him. That could make Portugal harder to plan against.

The Spain game is going to be fascinating. Two teams that know each other well, both with flaws, both with real talent. Portugal might have the edge if Martínez sticks with what worked Thursday. If he hesitates, Spain has the depth to punish indecision.

Either way, this is the kind of drama that makes the knockout rounds worth watching. A legend on the field. A coach with a tough call. And a whole country waiting to see what happens next.