No pressure to pass the ball to Ronaldo in World Cup: Portugal’s Conceicao

Ronaldo has faced disapproval aft his show successful Portugal’s archetypal lucifer of the FIFA World Cup.

Portugal winger Francisco Conceicao insists his teammates felt nary unit to walk to Cristiano Ronaldo pursuing scrutiny of the seasoned superstar’s relation successful their lacklustre World Cup opener.

Critics person questioned whether the 41-year-old Ronaldo’s deficiency of mobility is having a antagonistic effect connected Portugal’s chances successful the aftermath of a pedestrian 1-1 draw with the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

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But Conceicao connected Sunday said determination was nary question of players feeling obliged to pass to Ronaldo if different teammates were successful amended attacking positions.

“We don’t consciousness the request to walk him the ball,” Conceicao said. “I walk it to whoever I deliberation is successful the champion presumption and unmarked.”

Conceicao said Ronaldo is seen arsenic “just different subordinate of the squad”, which needs “every idiosyncratic for the corporate to function”.

“Cristiano is an illustration due to the fact that of his vocation and the hunger helium inactive possesses astatine 41 years of age… an illustration of enactment and the goals helium scores,” the Juventus subordinate said during a quality conference.

“There is nary 1 similar him erstwhile it comes to scoring goals… He is present to help, conscionable similar immoderate different player.”

Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo reacts during the World Cup Group K lucifer betwixt Portugal and DR Congo successful Houston connected June 17, 2026 [Ashley Landis/AP]

Ronaldo huffed and puffed his mode done a lucifer successful which helium was a peripheral fig up front.

His 25 touches were his fewest successful a crippled astatine a large tourney for Portugal erstwhile playing a afloat match.

The opposition with longtime rival Lionel Messi was stark, with the 38-year-old having deed a hat-trick a time earlier to springiness defending champions Argentina a 3-0 triumph implicit Algeria.

Portugal play Uzbekistan successful their 2nd Group K lucifer successful Houston connected Tuesday, desperately looking for 3 points to get their run up and running.

“No 1 takes it harder than we do. We felt firsthand that we didn’t bash our occupation successful the champion imaginable way,” Conceicao said.

“If things don’t spell well, determination volition beryllium much unit and much criticism. We privation to amusement our prime and triumph the adjacent match.”

Following the gully with DR Congo, erstwhile France striker Thierry Henry accused Ronaldo of being selfish.

“The squad needs to score, not you request to score,” Henry said connected Fox.

For the Houston stalemate, absorption midfielder Ngalayel Mukau was asked if they had a program to incorporate Ronaldo.

“Not really. We cognize he’s nary longer the aforesaid subordinate arsenic earlier and that he’s older now,” Mukau replied.

“At his age, helium tin nary longer enactment successful the aforesaid effort arsenic before, but I person tremendous respect for him.”

Mukau’s appraisal was kinder than immoderate of the flak going Ronaldo’s way, and manager Roberto Martinez has not been spared either.

Some pundits accused the Spaniard of being acrophobic to driblet the skipper oregon adjacent substitute him.

“That’s embarrassing from Martinez,” erstwhile Premier League striker Chris Sutton said connected the BBC aft Martinez kept Ronaldo connected and took disconnected midfielder Vitinha successful the 83rd minute.

“He’s frightened to instrumentality him off. He’s not the manager… the crippled has passed him [Ronaldo] by today.”

Critics accidental it is not arsenic if Martinez does not person alternatives.

Goncalo Ramos, the Paris Saint-Germain striker who replaced Vitinha, is simply a ready-made replacement and an out-and-out fig nine.