Cristiano Ronaldo came out in the first game Portugal on WC 2026 in football empty. His team drew with DR Congo 1:1.
The captain had three shots, none on target. The 41-year-old forward played the entire match and became the oldest player to start in the starting line-up of a World Cup match. However, he received criticism for his performance.
“In football, it’s important that the team has to score, not you,” said former French international Thierry Henry in the FOX TV studio, explaining it with a concrete example.
The Portuguese footballers got a promising chance in the second half. Conceição received the ball on the edge of the penalty area and headed towards the goal.
Ronaldo tied the defenders on himself and headed for the goal. Conceição sent a pass towards Bruno Fernandes, but Ronaldo stopped his movement and tried to hit the ball. From an unnatural position, he sent it just next to the gate.
“If you run into the opponent’s five, the defender has to make a decision, but because he wants to score, he went into the path of the pass to Bruno Fernandes,” Henry explained to his colleagues in the studio.
“You’re ex-football players and you’ve been in that situation. In that case you want him to continue his movement towards the goal, create space and Fernandes would just arrive. But because he (Ronaldo) wants to score, he goes in the direction of the pass and it’s easier for the defenders to defend.”
VIDEO: Cristiano Ronaldo’s chance
From the expression on his face, it was obvious that Bruno Fernandes, who was already preparing to shoot, saw the situation like Henry.
“If Ronaldo is a team player, he should stop and understand that he is supposed to be a player who comes off the bench and thus affects the game,” said ex-English footballer Jay Bothroyd critically in the Sky Sports Football studio.
“When I look at Ronaldo, it looks like it’s still all about him. He’s always trying to catch up to Messi, but he’ll never be Messi. There was a time when he was one of the best in the world, but right now he’s more of a hindrance than a help to Portugal. I think coach Martinez has to make a big decision.”
Cristiano Ronaldo is the 2016 European champion with Portugal, and with over 970 goals, he is considered the best scorer in history.
“It’s true he’s one of the best goalscorers in the world, but if he’s not scoring he’s not doing anything else. He’s not going to run and chase defenders like Harry Kane,” Bothroyd added during the studio.
