'No conclusion' reached on Ronaldo and Pepe's Portugal future

Portugal's manager, Roberto Martinez, has stated that no decisions have been made regarding the international futures of Cristiano Ronaldo and Pepe following their loss to France at Euro 2024. Throughout the tournament, both players have been consistent features on the Portuguese side, SSP reported. Ronaldo, aged 39, played every minute of the knockout win over Slovenia as well as the quarter-final defeat against France. On the other hand, Pepe, at 41 years old, made history as the oldest player in European Championship history.

After the loss, Ronaldo and Pepe shared a poignant moment on the pitch, with the latter in tears while seeking solace from his teammate. Martinez explained that Pepe's tears were borne out of frustration and hailed him as a role model for Portuguese football. The manager said that the impact Pepe had in the tournament would resonate across future generations. However, when asked if this was the final appearance for Ronaldo and Pepe in a Portugal shirt, Martinez indicated that no individual decisions had been made as the defeat was still too raw.

Ronaldo has faced criticism and scrutiny throughout the tournament, especially due to his failure to find the back of the net in any of his five appearances. The former Manchester United and Real Madrid forward was visibly emotional after missing a penalty against Slovenia, though he redeemed himself by scoring during the subsequent shootout. However, in the match against France, Ronaldo once again appeared frustrated, casting doubt over his future involvement with the national team.

Former Portugal defender Jose Fonte suggested that both Ronaldo and Pepe might see the end of their international careers. He emphasized the significance of their contributions to Portuguese football and suggested it may be time to make way for the emerging young talent. Ronaldo's statistics at Euro 2024 reflect a lack of goalscoring success. This tournament marked the first time he has failed to score in a major international event, with it being his 11th appearance. Furthermore, he has not scored from open play in a major tournament since the 2021 Euros' group stage. Despite taking 23 shots across Portugal's five matches in Euro 2024, the highest among all players, Ronaldo was unable to find the back of the net. His expected goals tally for the tournament stands at 0.692.

Although Ronaldo has struggled to find his scoring form, manager Martinez has chosen to persist with him in the starting lineup rather than benching him. According to Sutton, sticking with Ronaldo hampers the team's performance when they have alternative options on the bench. Similarly, Danny Murphy expressed his frustration, remarking that Ronaldo's influence on the game has been minimal amid his lack of impact on the scoreline.