The International break is almost over, and up next for Roberto Martinez and Co is a match against Slovenia. Portugal is in high spirits following their dominant victory against Sweden. However, more than the impressive performance, the talking point of the contest was the absence of Cristiano Ronaldo. The 5-time Ballon d’Or winner did not even feature on the bench! Notably, a few days ago, Ronaldo uploaded an image of swollen feet on Instagram following a recovery session. Hence, is the Portuguese superstar fit to play at Stožice Stadium? Let’s dive in.

To keep things short, Cristiano Ronaldo is expected to play a part against Slovenia. In fact, CR7 had boarded the flight to Slovenia, and the pictures have made their way to social media. Moreover, the veteran with 205 caps was also present during yesterday’s training session. Hence, it seems a quick recovery from injury for the Portuguese superstar. Surprisingly, CR7 never had an injury in the first place!

His absence against Sweden was not related to an injury. Rather, the Portuguese all-time goal scorer was on a trip with his family to Ummahat Island in Saudi Arabia. Perhaps Roberto Martinez and the staff would have wanted to give their captain a rest. After all, Cristiano Ronaldo has featured in 33 games for Al Nassr, and at 39, he is no spring chicken.

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Hence, there is a good chance that a refreshed CR7 will play a part against Slovenia, either as a starter or from the bench. Regardless of his role, one thing is clear. Portugal can win matches, with or without Cristiano Ronaldo!

Portugal is no more a team entirely dependent on Cristiano Ronaldo!

Recently, Portugal defender Joao Cancelo made a massive statement regarding Cr7’s importance to the national side. Cancelo said, “He (Cristiano Ronaldo) is an important player and spent 15 years competing with Messi for the Ballon d’Or, but the peak of a footballer’s career is between the ages of 25 and 32. He is an important player for us, but the national team does not depend entirely on him.”

It is an understatement to say that the statement was controversial. But the match against Sweden did little to prove Cancelo wrong.

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The said match was utter dominance from Roberto Martinez’s side. Portugal scored five goals from all different players and even dominated possession. They had 13 shots in total, of which eight were on target! There was a sense of fluidity and urgency with how the Portuguese attackers operated.

With Cristiano Ronaldo not having the best times at Al Nassr after the recent AFC Champions League exit, Roberto Martinez might be tempted to continue with the same attack. Nevertheless, one thing is clear- Portugal’s forward line at Euro 2024 will make for a compelling narrative.

Cristiano Ronaldo Deemed ‘Extremely Important’ For Portugal Despite Joao Cancelo’s ‘Way Past His Prime’ Claim