The Cristiano Ronaldo problem standing between Portugal and World Cup breakthrough

If 1966 represented a high point in England’s footballing history, it did for Portugal, too. Six decades on, their best performance in a World Cup remains the third place they secured at their first attempt. It might be unfair to frame everything that has followed as sixty years of hurt, however. In 2016, Portugal became champions of Europe. In the 21st century, as they excelled at exporting players and managers, arguably no footballing nation has had a bigger impact, relative to its size,