‘You had your time’ – Ronaldo accused of hindering Portugal despite milestone

Cristiano Ronaldo has ‘had his time’ and should step aside for Portugal, insists Gabby Agbonlahor.

The iconic forward made headlines for reaching another incredible milestone on Thursday.

Ronaldo scored his 900th career goal for club and country on Wednesday, firing in Portugal’s winner in the 2-1 victory over Croatia in the Nations League.

That tally is a record in men’s football, with the five-time Ballon d’Or winner now also having 131 goals for his country.

But despite this, Agbonlahor believes Ronaldo failing to score at Euro 2024 as Portugal crashed out on quarter-final penalties to France was enough to show it is time for the legendary forward to consider his place in the national team.

The ex-England international said: “If you watched him in the Euros, we forget don’t we, that he didn’t do anything.

“He probably hindered other players being played. I think him playing that many games probably cost Portugal.

“I know people will say that’s harsh and it’s not his fault, but you know, you had your time. You’ve still got what it takes, but have you got what it takes at the highest level any more? 

“There’s a reason why he’s playing in Saudi Arabia, there’s a reason why he got let go at Manchester United, there’s a reason why he’s not playing in Europe.

“I just think Portugal have got so many exciting players that were left on the bench during that Euros.”

Portugal also boast Liverpool’s Diogo Jota and Paris Saint-Germain’s Goncalo Ramos among their impressive attacking options, who have often missed out in order for Ronaldo to get in the team.

But Ronaldo, who turns 40 in February, recently insisted he’s not got any plans to retire – not even from international football.

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Agbonlahor continued: “Ronaldo will want to go to the World Cup, he’s not just carrying on to play the Nations League. The end goal is retiring at the World Cup.

“But if I’m [Roberto] Martinez I’m like ‘ugh, it’s the Ronaldo show again’. He’s already said I don’t want to be a bench player. He said if he’s in the squad he wants to be a starter. You’ve got that problem. It’s a hard one for the manager because is Ronaldo as big as Portugal?”

The game’s most internationally capped man is set on winning more trophies with his country to add to their Euro 2016 triumph, though.

However, he says he will know when the time is right to call it quits.

“It never crossed my mind that my cycle [with Portugal] had come to an end,” Ronaldo said. “Quite the opposite, it gave me even more motivation to continue to be honest. The motivation is to come to the national team to win the Nations League.

“We’ve already won it once and we want to do it again. I might say the same thing over and over again, but I don’t think long term, it’s always short term. Until the end of my career, I will always have the mindset that I will be a starter.

“What I feel at the moment, and the coach’s [Roberto Martinez] words also demonstrate this, is that I continue to be an asset to the national team and I will be the first [to admit] if that isn’t the case.

“When I’m [no longer] an asset I will be the first to leave. But I will go with a clear conscience, as always, because I know who I am, what I can do, what I do and what I will continue to do.”

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