Cristiano Ronaldo is in the starting lineup for Portugal against Spain in Monday’s World Cup round-of-16 match. At 41 years old, this could be his last game on the sport’s biggest stage.
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner has been a regular starter for manager Roberto Martinez throughout the tournament, despite some uneven performances. In Thursday’s chaotic 2-1 win over Croatia, Ronaldo scored a penalty in the 70th minute but was substituted with ten minutes left. He looked visibly frustrated coming off.
The real drama came from substitute Goncalo Ramos, who scored the injury-time winner. Ramos now plays for AC Milan after moving this summer, and his impact off the bench sparked questions about whether he should start this game. Martinez has never seriously considered dropping Ronaldo, and the decision was made clear when the lineup dropped: Ronaldo leads the attack again.
Portugal’s midfield saw one change from the Croatia match. Joao Neves kept his spot after replacing Ruben Neves in the previous game. Martinez appears to like the energy the younger Neves brings in the middle of the park.
Spain presents a serious test. This is no group-stage tune-up. The winner faces either co-host United States or Belgium in the quarterfinals. Rivals don’t get much bigger for Portugal than Spain, and the stakes couldn’t be higher.
Ronaldo himself confirmed before the match that this World Cup is his last. He’s playing in his sixth tournament, an absurd run for any player, but Father Time eventually catches everyone. If Portugal loses Monday, that’s it for the all-time great on this stage.
Portugal’s bench includes experienced options like Bernardo Silva, Ruben Neves, and Rafael Leao. Ramos is available as a substitute if Martinez needs a spark late. No injuries were reported for Portugal heading into the match.
The game is in Dallas, with kickoff scheduled for the afternoon local time. It’s a neutral site but both teams will have plenty of support in the stands.
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