Former Chelsea player Craig Burley has questioned Portugal’s chances of winning the 2026 FIFA World Cup with Cristiano Ronaldo as their main striker. He believes the 40-year-old forward can no longer perform at the highest level.

Burley shared his thoughts after Portugal reached the UEFA Nations League semi-finals by defeating Denmark. In the first leg, Portugal lost 1-0, with Ronaldo struggling to make an impact. However, in the second leg, Portugal secured a 5-2 victory.

During the match, Ronaldo missed a penalty early on but later scored a goal in the second half. Despite this, Burley insists that Ronaldo should no longer be Portugal’s main striker.

Speaking to ESPN, Burley said that while it is impressive for Ronaldo to still be playing at this age, his performances in recent major tournaments show that he struggles at the highest level. He suggested that keeping Ronaldo in the squad may put unnecessary pressure on coach Roberto Martinez.

Burley added that even though Ronaldo can still score goals occasionally, his overall impact has declined. He believes Portugal should plan for the future instead of relying on the veteran forward.

With the 2026 World Cup approaching, Portugal must decide whether to continue with Ronaldo or build their team around younger talents.