New York, June 20: Following a 1-1 draw against DR Congo in the FIFA World Cup 2026, Portugal’s star player Cristiano Ronaldo faced significant criticism. In the team’s opening match, Ronaldo appeared ineffective. However, Portugal defender Ruben Dias came to his defense.
Dias expressed confidence in Ronaldo, stating that criticism should not focus solely on one player. During the match against DR Congo, Ronaldo received the ball 25 times but failed to take a shot on target, assist a teammate, or successfully dribble past an opponent.
According to a report by Xinhua, Portugal could benefit from deploying faster and more agile players in attack. Nevertheless, Dias emphasized that the team still fully trusts the 41-year-old star, who is competing in his sixth World Cup final. In a press conference, Dias remarked, “Cristiano Ronaldo is certainly accustomed to the media pressure we typically face in clubs, national teams, world tournaments, and European competitions. Perfection is never attainable in such competitions.”
The defender noted that criticism is not directed at just one player. Ronaldo often receives the most attention, but the entire team shares the responsibility. He stated that this is not unusual, as teams have faced similar situations in the past and will continue to do so.
He added, “Criticism doesn’t matter much to us. It’s part of the game and just outside noise. When a team doesn’t perform well, such comments are always made. We are keeping ourselves away from unnecessary criticism.” Portugal will face Uzbekistan in their next match on June 23 during the FIFA World Cup 2026.
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