Emmanuel Petit, World Cup winner with France, has openly criticized Portugal's head coach Roberto Martínez, claiming he lacks the courage to make bold decisions about Cristiano Ronaldo, even if that means leaving the veteran star on the bench.

Portugal's coach fears Cristiano Ronaldo, confirms former player

Despite being 40 years old, Cristiano Ronaldo continues to prove his goal-scoring prowess with Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League, having surpassed the 30-goal mark once again this season. His hunger to compete at the highest level remains intact, and he’s still aiming to represent Portugal at the 2026 World Cup.

However, not everyone believes that the team should continue to revolve entirely around him. According to Petit, the real issue is not whether Ronaldo deserves a place in the squad, but whether Martínez has the authority to manage his role effectively. The former French midfielder suggested that the Portuguese Football Federation needs a manager capable of making tough choices — even when it involves the nation’s biggest icon.

“Cristiano still shows incredible drive. He wants to win every match, every competition, but the real question is whether the coach is brave enough to tell him he should start on the bench in some games,” Petit said in an interview with Sambaslots.

Petit also questioned whether Ronaldo himself would be willing to accept a reduced role. Known for his competitive mindset and strong personality, convincing the five-time Ballon d’Or winner that he can’t play every match might not be an easy task.

“You can’t be afraid not to start him. It takes guts to tell Ronaldo that sometimes he's better off coming off the bench. Playing every single game could harm the team’s dynamics. With his ego, would he accept that role? I don’t think so,” Petit added.

With the Nations League and the World Cup approaching, managing the final stages of Ronaldo’s international career will be one of Martínez’s greatest challenges. In the short term, though, it wouldn’t be surprising to see the Portuguese legend lead the line once again when Portugal faces Germany in the Nations League semi-finals in June.