Tuesday at the World Cup was one of those nights that reminded you why football is the greatest sport on the planet. Superstars turned up, delivered, and sent fans home buzzing. Then Wednesday arrived, and Cristiano Ronaldo had his chance to join the party. He didn't, and Portugal paid the price with a surprise draw against DR Congo that will have raised more than a few eyebrows.
Now, nobody is going to sit here and pretend Ronaldo hasn't been one of the greatest players who ever lived. The records, the trophies, the sheer bloody-mindedness of the man are all beyond question. But there comes a point in every great player's career where the honest conversation has to be had, and that conversation is getting louder around Ronaldo right now.
Portugal have an absolutely stacked squad. They have players all over the pitch who can hurt you, create something from nothing, and win games at the highest level. The problem is that the manager looks genuinely scared to take Ronaldo off, even when the performance clearly isn't there. That's not a football decision anymore, that's something else entirely, and it's affecting the team.
DR Congo deserve enormous credit, by the way. They came to compete, they were organised, they were dangerous on the break, and they got a result that nobody really predicted. That's what the World Cup is supposed to be about, and they should be proud of what they achieved.
But Portugal will know they left points on the table, and in a tournament where every result matters, drawing against DR Congo could come back to haunt them. Roberto Martinez needs to make a tough call, and soon. Ronaldo's legacy is already written and nothing that happens in this tournament will change what he has achieved over his career. But right now, the team might need something different, and the bravest thing Martinez could do is say so.
Great players deserve honesty, not just applause. Let me know your thoughts.