Taylor Twellman believes Portugal may have their strongest FIFA World Cup team of Cristiano Ronaldo’s career, but also thinks the side could be better without him starting.
The claim sounds harsh because Ronaldo remains Portugal’s biggest name and is heading to a record sixth World Cup.
But Twellman’s point is really about rhythm, mobility and whether Roberto Martinez’s deepest squad works better with a more fluid front line.
Portugal have enough elite players to make that question legitimate. This is no longer a team built only around one superstar.
Taylor Twellman says Portugal may be better without Cristiano Ronaldo starting
Speaking on ESPN’s Get Up, Twellman made a bold claim about Portugal’s World Cup ceiling.
“For Portugal, and I’m going to make a bold statement here, this is the best team Ronaldo has ever had around him at a World Cup,” Twellman said.
He added, “I actually think Portugal is at their best if he doesn’t play.”
That argument does not erase Ronaldo’s resume. He is still Portugal’s captain, record scorer and one of the greatest finishers the sport has ever seen.
But the tactical question is different. At 41, Ronaldo no longer offers the same pressing, defensive coverage or constant movement he once did, and Portugal’s current attackers can create a faster, less predictable structure.
The clearest evidence came in 2022, when Ronaldo was benched against Switzerland and Ramos scored a hat trick in a 6-1 last-16 win.
Taylor Twellman sees Portugal’s World Cup depth changing the Cristiano Ronaldo debate
Portugal’s squad quality is why Twellman’s claim has weight. Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva, Vitinha, Joao Neves, Rafael Leao, Joao Felix, Pedro Neto and Goncalo Ramos give Martinez different ways to build an attack.
That group can press, rotate positions and combine in tight spaces without every move needing to finish at Ronaldo’s feet.
That does not mean Ronaldo has no role. His finishing, experience and late-game presence can still matter in a tournament where one chance can decide everything.
But Twellman’s point is that Portugal may now have too much balance to bend the entire system around him.
For the first time in years, the uncomfortable question is not whether Portugal need Ronaldo’s goals. It is whether their best version comes when he is used more selectively.
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