SharePortugal have had their issues at the 2026 World Cup and many have been quick to highlight Cristiano Ronaldo as the biggest one. The 41-year-old has drawn a blank in two of his three appearances, offering little in the way of hold-up play or general involvement in his team’s possession game. Ronaldo certainly isn’t helping Portugal’s situation.By Graham RuthvenThe root of Portugal’s problems, however, go beyond their veteran forward. In fact, Portugal’s biggest weakness might be the area of the team most saw as their biggest strength before the start of the World Cup – the midfield. That’s where Roberto Martínez has the most to untangle.On paper, Bruno Fernandes, João Neves and Vitinha should be the most formidable midfield unit in the entire tournament. Fernandes was the best player in the Premier League last season, setting a new assists record for Manchester United, with Neves and Vitinha teammates for a Paris Saint-Germain side that retained the Champions League title in May.Martínez couldn’t have hoped for a more gifted collection of midfielders and yet his set up does nothing to get the best out of them. To the contrary, Fernandes, Neves and Vitinha are being limited by Martínez’s approach which contributed to underwhelming performances against DR Congo and Colombia.In both group stage matches that ended in a draw, Portugal circulated the ball in the middle of the pitch without any purpose. DR Congo and Colombia found it easy to put themselves between the ball and the goal. They asked Portugal to break them down and Martínez’s team failed to do so often enough.Against Uzbekistan, it was a different story as Portugal played with speed and intensity from the start. They moved the ball more quickly and put Fernandes in a position to influence the game in the final third. The Manchester United playmaker set up Ronaldo for one finish and had a hand in another two Portuguese goals.Portugal match ratings vs. UzbekistanIt was a short-lived resurgence, though, as Portugal struggled for any sort of traction in their goalless draw against Colombia to finish the group stage. Martínez’s side saw plenty of the ball, but did very little with it as Colombia held their opponents at arm’s length to top the group heading into the knockout rounds.The statistics make for grim reading with regards to Portugal’s performances at the 2026 World Cup so far. Indeed, Portugal are 16th for Big Chances generated at the tournament and 21st for Expected Goals (xG). They simply aren’t creating enough in front of goal to be considered a genuine threat.This is where Ronaldo can build the strongest defence for himself. How is a penalty box poacher like the 41-year-old meant to impact games if his team is failing to create penalty box opportunities as Portugal are at this World Cup? Ronaldo is entitled to feel he is being starved of service.Many believe Portugal’s current squad is the strongest ever taken by the country to a World Cup. They boast elite-level quality across the pitch, from Rúben Dias in central defence to Nuno Mendes at left back to Rafael Leão on the wing. The midfield was meant to be the engine room of a team capable of becoming world champions.Instead, the midfield has become emblematic of a team struggling to find top form this summer and Martínez can hardly argue that he doesn’t have the personnel to do better. The Spaniard’s system is the primary reason Portugal have toiled in their three World Cup matches so far with fundamental changes required.“Tomorrow we will begin the second World Cup, the preparation was very important,” said Martínez, looking ahead to Portugal’s round of 32 tie on Thursday. “Croatia is a team we know very well. They also know our strengths and our talent, so it will be a competitive match.”Had Portugal finished top of Group K, they would have faced a much more favourable last 32 tie against Ghana instead of a meeting with Luka Modrić and co. While Croatia have faded since making the World Cup final eight years ago, they will make for difficult opponents. It wouldn’t be a surprise if Croatia got the better of Portugal.Maybe everything will click for Portugal and Thursday’s knockout tie against Croatia will be looked back upon as the moment Ronaldo and his teammates found their groove. If ever there was a match to be a catalyst for a World Cup run, it’s an encounter with an opponent known for being tournament specialists.If Portugal continue to underwhelm, though, possibly exiting the World Cup early, Martínez will be blamed just like he was blamed by some for squandering Belgium’s so-called golden generation. The finger might also be pointed at Ronaldo, but he has nothing to do with the issues in midfield desperately hindering his team.(Cover image from IMAGO)You can follow every game from the World Cup on FotMob – with in-depth stat coverage, including xG, shot maps, and player ratings. Download the free app here.Add FotMob as a preferred news source on Google by clicking – here.Portugal have had their issues at the 2026 World Cup and many have been quick to highlight Cristiano Ronaldo as the biggest one. The 41-year-old has drawn a blank in two of his three appearances, offering little in the way of hold-up play or general involvement in his team’s possession game. Ronaldo certainly isn’t helping Portugal’s situation.By Graham RuthvenThe root of Portugal’s problems, however, go beyond their veteran forward. In fact, Portugal’s biggest weakness might be the area of the team most saw as their biggest strength before the start of the World Cup – the midfield. That’s where Roberto Martínez has the most to untangle.On paper, Bruno Fernandes, João Neves and Vitinha should be the most formidable midfield unit in the entire tournament. Fernandes was the best player in the Premier League last season, setting a new assists record for Manchester United, with Neves and Vitinha teammates for a Paris Saint-Germain side that retained the Champions League title in May.Martínez couldn’t have hoped for a more gifted collection of midfielders and yet his set up does nothing to get the best out of them. To the contrary, Fernandes, Neves and Vitinha are being limited by Martínez’s approach which contributed to underwhelming performances against DR Congo and Colombia.In both group stage matches that ended in a draw, Portugal circulated the ball in the middle of the pitch without any purpose. DR Congo and Colombia found it easy to put themselves between the ball and the goal. They asked Portugal to break them down and Martínez’s team failed to do so often enough.Against Uzbekistan, it was a different story as Portugal played with speed and intensity from the start. They moved the ball more quickly and put Fernandes in a position to influence the game in the final third. The Manchester United playmaker set up Ronaldo for one finish and had a hand in another two Portuguese goals.Portugal match ratings vs. UzbekistanIt was a short-lived resurgence, though, as Portugal struggled for any sort of traction in their goalless draw against Colombia to finish the group stage. Martínez’s side saw plenty of the ball, but did very little with it as Colombia held their opponents at arm’s length to top the group heading into the knockout rounds.The statistics make for grim reading with regards to Portugal’s performances at the 2026 World Cup so far. Indeed, Portugal are 16th for Big Chances generated at the tournament and 21st for Expected Goals (xG). They simply aren’t creating enough in front of goal to be considered a genuine threat.This is where Ronaldo can build the strongest defence for himself. How is a penalty box poacher like the 41-year-old meant to impact games if his team is failing to create penalty box opportunities as Portugal are at this World Cup? Ronaldo is entitled to feel he is being starved of service.Many believe Portugal’s current squad is the strongest ever taken by the country to a World Cup. They boast elite-level quality across the pitch, from Rúben Dias in central defence to Nuno Mendes at left back to Rafael Leão on the wing. The midfield was meant to be the engine room of a team capable of becoming world champions.Instead, the midfield has become emblematic of a team struggling to find top form this summer and Martínez can hardly argue that he doesn’t have the personnel to do better. The Spaniard’s system is the primary reason Portugal have toiled in their three World Cup matches so far with fundamental changes required.“Tomorrow we will begin the second World Cup, the preparation was very important,” said Martínez, looking ahead to Portugal’s round of 32 tie on Thursday. “Croatia is a team we know very well. They also know our strengths and our talent, so it will be a competitive match.”Had Portugal finished top of Group K, they would have faced a much more favourable last 32 tie against Ghana instead of a meeting with Luka Modrić and co. While Croatia have faded since making the World Cup final eight years ago, they will make for difficult opponents. It wouldn’t be a surprise if Croatia got the better of Portugal.Maybe everything will click for Portugal and Thursday’s knockout tie against Croatia will be looked back upon as the moment Ronaldo and his teammates found their groove. If ever there was a match to be a catalyst for a World Cup run, it’s an encounter with an opponent known for being tournament specialists.If Portugal continue to underwhelm, though, possibly exiting the World Cup early, Martínez will be blamed just like he was blamed by some for squandering Belgium’s so-called golden generation. The finger might also be pointed at Ronaldo, but he has nothing to do with the issues in midfield desperately hindering his team.(Cover image from IMAGO)You can follow every game from the World Cup on FotMob – with in-depth stat coverage, including xG, shot maps, and player ratings. Download the free app here.Add FotMob as a preferred news source on Google by clicking – here.