Alan Shearer has told Cristiano Ronaldo it is time to retire from international football because he is creating an “issue” for every other striker in the Portugal squad.
🗣️ “It’s a tough one because we’re talking about a giant of the game who’s broken all sorts of records, and I love his dedication, I love his style of play, I love how he wants to keep going.
“But it’s a difficult one because I said pre-tournament, I think depending on how Martinez treats Ronaldo in terms of not starting him or taking him off in games would determine how Portugal get on in this World Cup.
“He only took him off in one game and Ramos came on and scored, but then didn’t take him off against Spain when they needed a goal. And I thought he should have taken him off and he should have changed it and brought someone else on.
“Any other Portuguese striker is also going to have that issue whoever comes in, if Ronaldo doesn’t retire.
😬 “It did look as if this tournament might have been one too many for him and for Portugal.”