The question facing Portugal at the Word Cup is plain: Can Cristiano Ronaldo do for his country what Diego Maradona did for Argentina at the 1986 tournament?
Argentina went to Mexico 28 years ago with a solid team, but it was Maradona who made the South Americans special as he lifted them to the World Cup title with some electrifying performances and sensational goals.
Ronaldo also sprinkles magic dust onto a Portugal team that can assemble talent from Europe’s top flight but which without him lacks that extra edge.
The 2013 Fifa world player of the year’s stupendous performances against Sweden in the World Cup play-offs were a case in point. He got all four of Portugal’s goals over two legs, including a hat-trick in the return leg in Sweden as the Portuguese qualified with a 4-2 aggregate win.
In those games, Ronaldo produced the kind of explosive bursts of speed and close ball skills that have made him great.
“He is a huge influence in the team and our decisive player,” Portugal coach Paulo Bento said.
Calling Portugal a one-man team is uncharitable, Bento said. But subtract Ronaldo from the equation and the team can look ordinary, possessing no game-changing heavyweights.
After promising much, Manchester United winger Nani has faded in recent injury-struck seasons, while Joao Moutinho and Raul Meireles are worthy but unspectacular midfield players. The squad also lacks a show-stopping centre forward and possesses little depth.
That’s a far cry from the calibre of the 1990s Golden Generation, led by 2001 world player of the year Luis Figo. But the generations have one thing in common: neither has won any silverware.
These days, it is hard to overstate the inspiring role Ronaldo plays for Portugal.
When an ankle injury kept Ronaldo out of his country’s first two qualifying games for the 2012 European Championship, Portugal drew at home against Cyprus and lost to Norway. When he returned, Portugal racked up a five-game winning streak that put them back in contention.
In qualifying for the 2010 World Cup, Ronaldo was played out of position and didn’t score a single goal for his country in the campaign, which featured a run of three 0-0 draws, two of them at home, consigning Portugal to the play-offs.
After 11 years in the national team, Ronaldo is his country’s all-time top scorer with 49 goals, two more than previous record-holder Pauleta, who is now retired.
In Brazil, he could become the first Portuguese player to score at three different World Cups.
Portugal have long been admired for producing talented players, and their flair has earned them the tag of “the Brazilians of Europe.”
But Portugal head to the World Cup still looking for their champagne moment after coming up short at past tournaments. The Portuguese lost in the final at the 2004 European Championship and in the semi-finals at the 2006 World Cup and Euro 2012.
Here are five players to watch:
Cristiano Ronaldo – Along with Lionel Messi and Neymar, Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the world-class stars expected to light up the tournament.
Since his debut at 18 in 2003, Ronaldo has grown into the Portuguese team’s dominant figure. Now 29, he will arguably be at the peak of his international career in Brazil.
Ronaldo has been in deadly form in front of goal. This season, he became Portugal’s all-time leading scorer and has also surpassed Real Madrid great Ferenc Puskas’ mark of 242 goals for the Spanish club.
Pepe – Portugal and Brazil are bound by centuries of history, family ties and a shared language. While Brazilian talent at European clubs is a common sight, Portugal have turned to their one-time colony for the national team, too, as many Brazilian players are entitled to dual nationality.
Pepe is one of them, and has made 57 appearances since his 2007 debut. The 31-year-old Real Madrid defender is a mainstay who can also add muscle to the midfield.
Before him on the list of Brazilian-born Portugal players were midfielder Deco, who appeared 75 times for Portugal, starting out under Luiz Felipe Scolari – another Brazilian and Portugal’s longest-serving coach, between 2003 and 2008 – and Liedson, a striker who made 15 appearances.
Joao Moutinho – Monaco midfielder Joao Moutinho keeps a low profile, but his vision, expert passing and high work rate have made him the focal point of Portugal’s attacking moves.
Moutinho has made 66 appearances since 2005, though in Brazil he will be looking to build on his meagre two-goal tally.
He produced a standout performance in Portugal’s semi-final match at the 2012 European Championship before missing the target in a penalty shootout that gave Spain victory.
Nani – Manchester United winger Nani has had a miserable time over the past year due to injuries and poor form. The World Cup offers him the stage for a comeback.
Nani’s peak form at his Premier League club came in the 2010/11 season when his teammates voted him their player of the season. Hopes were high that Portugal had discovered another Cristiano Ronaldo.
But since then Nani has faded, and he didn’t find the net for 16 months up to October’s qualifier against Luxembourg when he stood in for Ronaldo as team captain.
William Carvalho – Defensive midfielder William Carvalho is regarded as one of Portugal’s promising newcomers.
Carvalho was named the Portuguese league’s player of the month for three straight months between October and December. In November, he made his first two national team appearances, coming on as a substitute in a tense play-off match against Sweden and impressing with his composure.
Like Cristiano Ronaldo and Nani, he is a product of Sporting Lisbon’s youth academy.
Carvalho, who will be 22 at the World Cup, is highly regarded for his powerful physique and heading skills, impressive reading of the game, and speed at tipping play from defense to attack.
Follow us on Twitter @SprtNationalUAE
