Portugal manager Roberto Martinez has effectively been handcuffed by Cristiano Ronaldo - particularly given how the legendary forward reacted to the sacking of Martinez's predecessor18:00, 21 Jun 2026The 2026 World Cup is barely underway - but the Portuguese national team is already engulfed in a familiar, suffocating drama. Portugal's disappointing 1-1 draw against the Democratic Republic of Congo in their Group K opener exposed a glaring Cristiano Ronaldo-shaped flaw.The 41-year-old forward's performance was, by all objective accounts, remarkably poor. He cut a peripheral figure, managing a mere 25 touches, registering zero shots on target and actively obstructing his own team-mates in a desperate bid to find the net.And yet, as the clock ticked down and Portugal chased a winning goal, manager Roberto Martinez opted not to substitute his misfiring captain. It was a decision that perfectly highlighted the impossible, hostage-like position Martinez has found himself in.His paralysis is entirely predictable given the toxic precedent set in 2022, when Ronaldo's fury at being dropped by Fernando Santos culminated in an icy public snub following the manager's eventual sacking.JOIN US ON FACEBOOK! Latest news, analysis and much more on Mirror Football's Facebook pageBack in Qatar, Santos made the brave decision to bench an underperforming Ronaldo during the knockout stages - a tactical masterstroke that was instantly vindicated when his replacement, Goncalo Ramos, scored a sensational hattrick against Switzerland.However, the decision came at a catastrophic personal cost. Ronaldo's immense ego was shattered and his relationship with the long-serving manager evaporated on the spot. The true pettiness of the fallout was laid bare when Santos was subsequently sacked following Portugal's shock defeat to Morocco in the quarter-finals.While the rest of the Portuguese squad rushed to social media to pen emotional, grateful tributes to their Euro 2016-winning coach, Ronaldo responded with a deafening, cold silence. He completely snubbed his former boss, refusing to offer a single word of public appreciation.That bitter 2022 snub stands as a stark warning to Martinez and sums up his current managerial nightmare and the predicament that – and Portugal – find themselves in.As a result, Martinez and Ronaldo are facing a torrent of criticism following Portugal's 2026 World Cup opener. Speaking on Fox Sports, former France striker Thierry Henry delivered a scathing breakdown of a second half incident where Ronaldo's individual ambitions directly ruined a golden opportunity for Bruno Fernandes.Henry stated bluntly that "the team needs to score, not you need to score," pointing out how Ronaldo ran directly into Fernandes' path because of his desperate desire to get on the scoresheet himself, completely ruining a moment where his team-mate could have easily tapped it in.Meanwhile, commentator Chris Sutton took direct aim at Martinez's total lack of authority. Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live, Sutton branded the manager "embarrassingly weak" and argued that he is simply too "scared" of upsetting his superstar captain.According to Sutton, the longer Martinez refuses to drop Ronaldo, the weaker he looks. He noted that while Ronaldo remains a legendary figure, he has essentially been allowed to become the manager of Portugal because Martinez simply does not possess the backbone required to take charge of his own team.It leaves Portugal stuck in a definitive lose-lose situation. By continuing to accommodate an icon who clearly hinders the team's fluidity, cohesion and attacking effectiveness, Martinez is hamstringing an exceptionally talented squad that many believe is capable of winning the World Cup this summer.But by dropping him, Martinez arguably risks the exact same freeze-out that finished Santos, proving that Ronaldo's massive ego remains a deeply damaging weight around the neck of the national team.