Paul Scholes admits that Cristiano Ronaldo is a "problem" for Portugal and believes the former Manchester United teammate must be "very frustrated" after seeing Lionel Messi score a hat-trick in the World Cup.
On 19 June 2026 GMT+7, after the Portugal national team drew 1-1 with Congo in the opening match of Group C at the 2026 World Cup,
Portugal had only seven shots with just one on target. Many criticized their weak attack and said they should have done better with their chances. Ronaldo's performance drew significant criticism as well. His stats for the full 90 minutes were: 0 goals, 0 assists, 3 shots, 0 on target, 0 chances created, 0 tackles, 0 duels won on the ground, and 3 times losing possession.
Paul Scholes, the legendary England and Manchester United midfielder, spoke frankly about Cristiano Ronaldo in an interview on the podcast The Good, The Bad & The Football.
"I think it’s a difficult situation for the manager. I once did a program called Stick to Football with Roberto Martinez and asked him off-air, ‘Is Ronaldo a problem for you?’ because I felt he was somewhat of a problem."
"At 41 years old... for me, there is only one position on the field where a 41-year-old should be a starter, and that’s goalkeeper."
"Cristiano must be very upset because Lionel Messi scored a hat-trick, and Kylian Mbappé scored twice... it must be eating away at him mentally."
"I feel sorry for Martinez because he tries to support Ronaldo and says, ‘I have the best striker in the world,’ but deep down he probably knows it’s hurting the team."
"Right now, Ronaldo can still score when the team dominates possession, but in games requiring counterattacks or quick transitions, his movement at 41 is a problem."
"Portugal may not have a standout striker, but you need someone who can run."
"For me, he should only play in the last 15 minutes. You might be able to play until 41 as a center-back or goalkeeper, but as a forward, it’s no longer suitable."