Alan Shearer has claimed that Portugal boss Roberto Martinez could be unable to take off an underperforming Cristiano Ronaldo at the World Cup due to the fading legend's extreme 'power'.

The Al Nassr star looked a shadow of his former self in Portugal's opening group-stage draw against DR Congo, showing every bit of his 41 years. Despite failing to register a shot on target, Martinez opted against taking Ronaldo off - a decision that drew criticism from some quarters, with suggestions that the Spaniard was 'scared' to replace him.

Ronaldo's passionate fanbase reacted to this criticism with zeal, leaving a bombardment of abuse on his team-mates' social media pages, claiming that the rest of the team were deliberately sabotaging the former Real Madrid player by refusing to pass to him.

Premier League legend Alan Shearer has now weighed in on the debate, suggesting that Martinez lacks the power to handle – or even get the best out of – Ronaldo during the twilight years of his career, much to the detriment of the wider team.

Shearer implied that it may even be out of Martinez's control – although he did not go as far as to say he was under direct orders from those above him to keep Ronaldo on the pitch.

Speaking to Betfair, the 63-cap former England player said: 'It was always a concern of mine if Ronaldo wasn't prepared to accept he may not start every game, and he certainly can't play every minute of every game. It looks as if that's the case.

'Whether Roberto Martinez is allowed to have a word with him and actually bring him off. Cristiano is that powerful. If he isn't prepared to understand he can't play every minute, then it won't work.

'I would start him in Portugal’s next game, but if it doesn't work, I'd be telling him he has to come off. That's what I mean though, it's whether he's allowed to be subbed because Cristiano is that powerful. It's really difficult.

'He's a global superstar who has done so well for so many years, but he hasn't scored for a while in a Portugal shirt and he's nowhere near his best.'

Martinez has been in talks with Al Nassr, Ronaldo's Saudi club, about taking the vacant manager's job there after this tournament. He has already declared he is leaving the Portugal job at the conclusion of the World Cup. 

Among those critical of Ronaldo's team-mates was his sister, Katia Aveiro, who liked a post on social media that compared Portugal midfielder Bruno Fernandes to Brazilian star Raphinha – who has himself admitted to failing to replicate his elite club form for Barcelona in a Brazil shirt.

Aveiro also took to Instagram to claim sarcastically that 'magically (Portugal) forgot how to pass the ball, win it back, (or) launch counter-attacks'.

Following the match against DR Congo, prominent Portuguese sports journalist Vitor Pinto claimed that the criticism aimed at Ronaldo's team-mates risks unravelling squad harmony.

‘It demonstrates the risk of a civil war within the national team,' Pinto said. 'There is a reaction to any criticism levelled at Cristiano Ronaldo, and that is where much of the polarisation comes from.

‘I do not believe there was any boycott against Cristiano Ronaldo – let’s make that clear from the start.

‘I repeat, there was no organised boycott against Cristiano Ronaldo within the national team. However, it is true that Portugal did not communicate effectively with their centre-forward, nor did they employ a strategy in which the striker created space for others to break through the defence and finish.’

Former France and Arsenal star Thierry Henry admitted that Ronaldo showed selfishness in his play, and highlighted a moment in which Ronaldo got in the way of Fernandes, only for his shot to drift wide of the post, while Fernandes appeared visibly frustrated as a result.

'The team needs to score, not you need to score,' the former Arsenal and France striker said on Fox News.

All eyes remain on whether Martinez will opt to stick or twist with the perennial fighting force that is the five-time Champions League winner and 2016 Euros winner.