Sunday Oliseh has urged Portugal to reduce Cristiano Ronaldo’s playing time at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, arguing that shorter appearances would improve his effectiveness, SuperEaglesNG.com reports.
Ronaldo, now 41, continues to lead the attack for Cristiano Ronaldo in what is expected to be his final World Cup with Portugal. The discussion follows Portugal’s lack of cutting edge in a group match against DR Congo, where they dominated possession but created few clear chances.
Former Nigeria international Sunday Oliseh made the comments on the “Global Football Insights” programme.
He said: “Ronaldo is exceptional, but he’s gone from being a great dribbler to being a fox in the box. He’s adapted his game to fit his age.”
Oliseh added: “I think it’s better he plays 35 minutes where he can give 100 per cent than try to play through 90 minutes and not be at his best.”
He also questioned Ronaldo’s fit in Portugal’s current attacking setup: “Strikers don’t have to always wait for balls in the modern age. He has scored loads of goals, but there’s a reason they tell footballers to start writing footballers when they get to 33.”
The comments underline Oliseh’s view that Portugal should prioritise movement and tactical fluidity over relying on a full-match striker.
Portugal face Uzbekistan in their next World Cup group fixture.
