Cristiano Ronaldo once again found himself at the center of attention as Portugal sealed their place in the knockout stages of the Euro 2024 with a comprehensive 3-0 victory over Turkey. While the superstar is yet to get on the scoresheet, he unselfishly set up Bruno Fernandes for Portugal’s third goal of the game. However, there were still glimpses of his theatrics, with his teammates producing the game’s standout moments.

During the build-up to Portugal’s second goal, Ronaldo was visibly frustrated as Joao Cancelo failed to read his run. Fortunately for Portugal, Samet Akaydin’s poor back pass found its way into the net. Despite not finding the back of the net, Ronaldo remains the focal point of the team, with pitch invaders in Dortmund desperate for a selfie with the icon. But with his teammates shining, the question arises: do Portugal still need Ronaldo?

This topic was explored on the latest episode of It’s All Kicking Off, with Mail Sport’s Ian Ladyman questioning whether Ronaldo deserves his place or if Portugal are simply too afraid to drop him. The podcast, released daily during the tournament, delves into this intriguing dilemma. While Ronaldo remains the talisman for Portugal, the performances of his teammates suggest they may no longer be reliant on him.

Listen to It’s All Kicking Off on Spotify or Apple Podcasts to hear more about this topic and stay tuned for new episodes released daily during the Euros. As the tournament progresses, the role of Ronaldo and his impact on the Portuguese team will continue to be a subject of discussion and speculation.

Cristiano Ronaldo was in the spotlight during Portugal’s victory over Turkey at Euro 2024