41-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo has become a "stationary target" in the penalty area, always waiting for chances on the spot, with his dribbling skills falling short even compared to the Cape Verde goalkeeper.

The 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico has no shortage of surprises, but sometimes the most unexpected "miracle" comes from a 40-year-old goalkeeper. In the Round of 16 match between Argentina and Cape Verde, despite the newcomers losing in extra time, Cape Verde's 40-year-old goalkeeper Vozinha made several outstanding saves and even showcased a skillful dribble that stunned the crowd. It was truly inspiring.

However, the most "devastating" footnote to this dribble came from the ruthless mockery by Spanish outlet Marca: In this World Cup, Vozinha completed one successful dribble against Argentina. Meanwhile, the 41-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo has recorded zero successful dribbles in his four games at the 2026 World Cup!

This statistical contrast is nothing short of a blunt mockery of aging itself. When a 40-year-old veteran goalkeeper is willing to display agility and courage in front of goal, the 41-year-old Ronaldo has completely confined himself to the center of the penalty area, transforming into a true "stationary target" in the box.

This "stationary effect" was particularly evident in Portugal's match against the Democratic Republic of Congo. Facing the opponent's 5-4-1 defensive block, Ronaldo had only 25 touches, three shots with none on target, and zero successful dribbles. Instead of drifting wide or dropping deep to receive the ball as he did in his prime, he stubbornly remained near the offside line. As a result, Congo's defenders stuck to him like "personal bodyguards," while Portugal's attacks became rigid due to a static point in the frontline that failed to create fluid movement.

French legend Thierry Henry pointed out bluntly that Ronaldo's positioning even blocked his teammates' passing lanes. Meanwhile, Manchester United legend Paul Scholes openly stated that having the 41-year-old Ronaldo start as a center-forward is "not reasonable" and that he has become a "minor problem" for the Portuguese team. Despite Portugal's 75% possession, their expected goals were a mere 0.07, a brutal statistic suggesting that when the team needs 11 players to move, there is a stationary post on the frontline that offers no depth penetration.

What is even more lamentable is that Ronaldo still seems to live in the illusion of his 25-year-old prime. Messi has learned to reconcile with aging, adapting his movements and link-up play to fit his veteran role, earning the trust of his teammates in their prime. In contrast, Ronaldo refuses to lower his stance, persisting in waiting for teammates to "serve" him chances and even showing displeasure at being substituted early against Croatia. This conflict between individual priority and lack of integration makes his on-field presence highly fractured.

Football is, after all, a sport for 11 players. It has nurtured countless legends but never relies on an immovable statue. The 41-year-old Ronaldo remains a respected veteran of the sport, but when his symbolic value far outweighs his practical contribution and his presence effectively reduces Portugal to a "10-man game," perhaps we must admit: the once-invincible goal machine has truly aged.

Rather than being a "stationary target" waiting for miracles in the penalty area, it would be better to learn how to burn the final bit of fuel for the team at critical moments. After all, true legends are never defined by stubborn perseverance until the very end but by knowing the right time to make space for younger players to run. AC Milan, having just spent over €80 million on Gonçalo Ramos, saw him score again in the knockout stages of the World Cup in less than 40 minutes of playing time, delivering a decisive goal against Croatia. This gave him four World Cup knockout goals, four times that of Cristiano Ronaldo, who has played in six World Cups. All four of Ramos's goals came from open play. The Portuguese coaching staff needs to negotiate with Ronaldo to reasonably distribute playing time between him and Ramos, rather than allowing Ronaldo to always start and complete the full 90 minutes. A clear division of labor at the striker position is the key to Portugal reaching the next level.

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