Portugal are not a better team without Ronaldo, says Fernandes

Bruno Fernandes has dismissed suggestions that Portugal are a better team without Cristiano Ronaldo as the 2026 World Cup draws ever nearer. 

Portugal booked their place at FIFA's flagship tournament by topping qualification Group F ahead of the Republic of Ireland, taking 13 points from their six qualifiers. 

Roberto Martinez's team netted 20 goals in those matches, with Ronaldo scoring a team-high total of five, and Fernandes finishing joint-second with Joao Neves on two. 

But in their penultimate group game, Portugal were beaten 2-0 by Ireland in a game that saw Ronaldo dismissed for the first time in his international career. 

In his absence, Portugal thumped Armenia 9-1 at Estadio Do Dragao, with Fernandes and Neves both scoring hat-tricks, with Renato Veiga, Goncalo Ramos and Francisco Conceicao also on target. 

That led to more suggestions that Martinez's side would be better off without the five-time Ballon d'Or winner, but Fernandes disagrees.

"Cristiano, inside the box, continues to be a very high-level player," Fernandes said. "He draws defenders and creates space for other players.

"If Cristiano doesn't play and Goncalo does, Goncalo is strong in pressing and good at diagonal runs.

"When I'm not playing and Bernardo [Silva] is playing as a number 10, Bernardo gives you more possession, I make more of a final pass. It's all like that.

"All players add things and take away others. Cristiano is the same as us.

"We have to know how to adapt and enhance each other's qualities so that the national team benefits."

Ronaldo has been a star for Portugal on the international stage, netting 143 goals in 226 appearances for his country, sending records tumbling in the process. 

Indeed, with his brace against Hungary in October, he became the leading goalscorer in the history of World Cup qualifiers, surpassing Carlos Ruiz's record of 39 by two. 

His time with the national team looked to be in doubt when he was benched by Fernando Santos at the 2022 World Cup, but he has since been reintegrated under Martinez.

"I know what people think, that it's clear we play better without Ronaldo, that the players are freer and more fluid," Fernandes said.

"I think that, if that happens, it's partly our fault. We can't worry if Cristiano is on the pitch, because Cristiano can give us things."

Ronaldo has netted eight goals at the World Cup and could become the first player to score at six different editions of the tournament at the 2026 edition. 

But the 40-year-old has never gone beyond the semi-finals of the competition, when Portugal were beaten by France 1-0 in Germany nearly 20 years ago. 

And none of his goals have come in knockout-stage games, while his great rival Lionel Messi netted in every knockout stage as Argentina captured the trophy in Qatar.

The 2026 tournament will surely represent Ronaldo's last opportunity to lift the only major trophy that has eluded him throughout his glittering career.

"We dream of winning the World Cup and that responsibility is positive," Fernandes said.

"We must close ranks as a group and figure out where to improve, and understand that the World Cup won't be perfect.

"I know we are prepared to have a great campaign that will bring honour to the country."