Ronaldo has confronted criticism after his efficiency in Portugal’s first match of the FIFA World Cup.
Revealed On 22 Jun 2026
Portugal winger Francisco Conceicao insists his teammates felt no strain to move to Cristiano Ronaldo following scrutiny of the veteran celebrity’s position of their lacklustre World Cup opener.
Critics have questioned whether or not the 41-year-old Ronaldo’s lack of mobility is having a adverse impact on Portugal’s probabilities within the wake of a pedestrian 1-1 draw with the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
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However Conceicao on Sunday stated there was no query of gamers feeling obliged to pass to Ronaldo if different teammates had been in higher attacking positions.
“We don’t really feel the necessity to move him the ball,” Conceicao stated. “I move it to whoever I feel is in one of the best place and unmarked.”
Conceicao stated Ronaldo is seen as “simply one other member of the squad”, which wants “each particular person for the collective to operate”.
“Cristiano is an instance due to his profession and the starvation he nonetheless possesses at 41 years of age… an instance of management and the targets he scores,” the Juventus participant stated throughout a information convention.
“There isn’t any one like him in terms of scoring targets… He’s right here to assist, identical to every other participant.”
Ronaldo huffed and puffed his means by a match by which he was a peripheral determine up entrance.
His 25 touches had been his fewest in a recreation at a significant match for Portugal when taking part in a full match.
The distinction with longtime competitor Lionel Messi was stark, with the 38-year-old having hit a hat-trick a day earlier to provide defending champions Argentina a 3-0 win over Algeria.
Portugal play Uzbekistan of their second Group Ok match in Houston on Tuesday, desperately on the lookout for three factors to get their marketing campaign up and operating.
“Nobody takes it more durable than we do. We felt firsthand that we didn’t do our job in the absolute best means,” Conceicao stated.
“If issues don’t go effectively, there will likely be extra strain and extra criticism. We wish to present our high quality and win the subsequent match.”
Following the draw with DR Congo, former France striker Thierry Henry accused Ronaldo of being egocentric.
“The staff wants to attain, not you must rating,” Henry stated on Fox.
For the Houston stalemate, opposition midfielder Ngalayel Mukau was requested if that they had a plan to include Ronaldo.
“Probably not. We all know he’s now not the identical participant as earlier than and that he’s older now,” Mukau replied.
“At his age, he can now not put in the identical effort as earlier than, however I’ve super respect for him.”
Mukau’s evaluation was kinder than a number of the flak going Ronaldo’s means, and coach Roberto Martinez has not been spared both.
Some pundits accused the Spaniard of being afraid to drop the skipper and even substitute him.
“That’s embarrassing from Martinez,” former Premier League striker Chris Sutton stated on the BBC after Martinez stored Ronaldo on and took off midfielder Vitinha within the 83rd minute.
“He’s scared to take him off. He’s not the supervisor… the sport has handed him [Ronaldo] by right now.”
Critics say it’s not as if Martinez doesn’t have options.
Goncalo Ramos, the Paris Saint-Germain striker who changed Vitinha, is a ready-made alternative and an out-and-out quantity 9.
