England's all-time leading scorer Alan Shearer has urged Cristiano Ronaldo to retire from international football, saying his continued presence creates a selection dilemma and limits opportunities for other strikers in the Portugal squad.
Speaking to The Sun Football on Sunday, Shearer, who retired in 2006 before moving into sports media and punditry, said Ronaldo's status makes it difficult for Portugal's coach to make tactical decisions.
"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 before the tournament that how Roberto Martinez treated Ronaldo, whether by not starting him or taking him off during games, would determine how Portugal got on in this World Cup," he said.
"He only took him off in one game and Ramos came on and scored, but then he didn't take him off against Spain when they needed a goal. I thought 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," said Shearer.
Alan Shearer is widely regarded as one of England's greatest strikers. He remains the Premier League's all-time leading scorer with 260 goals and enjoyed a distinguished career with Southampton, Blackburn Rovers and his boyhood club, Newcastle United.