World Cup: Two Manchester United legends defend Cristiano Ronaldo — and point the finger at one Portugal teammate

Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal were eliminated from the 2026 World Cup connected Monday aft a 1-0 decision to Spain successful the circular of 16 successful Arlington, Texas,

Mikel Merino's stoppage-time extremity ending what proved to beryllium a profoundly underwhelming run for Roberto Martinez's side. As the particulate settled, disapproval was directed squarely astatine the 41-year-old, and 2 Manchester United legends person moved to support him.

Ronaldo scored 3 times successful 5 appearances astatine the tournament, breaking a singular postulation of records successful the process. He became the archetypal subordinate to people astatine six antithetic World Cups, the oldest goalscorer successful World Cup knockout past — with his punishment against Croatia — and Portugal's all-time starring World Cup scorer with 11 goals.

Despite those landmarks, his wide publication fell abbreviated of expectations, and the post-elimination statement was swift and pointed.

Thierry Henry, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Alessandro Del Piero each came to Ronaldo's defence, but the astir forthright effect came from 2 of his erstwhile Manchester United teammates.

Ferdinand points to Ronaldo's grounds and his movement

Rio Ferdinand took to societal media to situation those questioning Ronaldo's spot successful the squad. 'It is unthinkable however immoderate radical person abbreviated memories,' the erstwhile United centre-back said. 'I americium talking astir the World Cup qualifiers. Who was Portugal's apical scorer? Cristiano Ronaldo. And present radical are saying helium should not adjacent beryllium here?'

Ferdinand did not halt there, drafting a examination with 1 of football's astir feared forwards. 'If you privation a accidental to autumn to someone, helium is inactive that man,' helium said. 'His question is inactive 1 of the champion successful football. Maybe lone Haaland comes adjacent erstwhile it comes to question wrong the punishment area.'

Ferdinand went further, arguing that the squad itself needed to accommodate to Ronaldo alternatively than the different mode around.

'Players germinate and age. They go antithetic athletes. And if they are inactive bully enough, the squad besides needs to accommodate to bring retired their best. Putting each the blasted connected Cristiano Ronaldo and saying helium was liable for Portugal's elimination is, successful my opinion, wholly absurd.'

Rooney targets Fernandes directly

Wayne Rooney, speaking arsenic a BBC pundit during the Spain fixture, was arsenic direct, but focused his disapproval connected Ronaldo's teammates alternatively than their manager.

'If you are playing Cristiano Ronaldo, you person to usage him,' Rooney said.

'The shot could person been enactment successful the container here, from Bruno Fernandes. But they garbage to enactment it in. If you play him, you person to usage him. At acceptable pieces, helium is inactive a monolithic menace for Portugal. Do not play him the shot 30 yards from the goal, that is not his spot immoderate more. Get him into the punishment country wherever helium is inactive effective.'

What the statistic say

The numbers lend immoderate value to some men's arguments. Ronaldo had 4 clear-cut chances created for him during the tourney and converted 2 of them — his 3rd goal, against Croatia, came from the punishment spot.

For context, Haaland — cited by Ferdinand — scored 7 goals astatine the tourney for Norway from 5 large chances missed.

Perhaps the astir striking statistic from Portugal's run concerns their midfield creativity. Portugal's 2 full-backs, Nuno Mendes and Joao Cancelo, created much large chances for teammates — six successful full — than each of Portugal's cardinal midfielders combined.

Vitinha created 1 and Fernandes 2 crossed the full tournament, and neither registered an assist.

Ronaldo himself spoke with diagnostic defiance aft the last whistle. 'I'm bittersweet to beryllium leaving the World Cup similar this,' helium said. 'I gave it my all. I did my best, and I'm leaving with a wide conscience. It was my past World Cup, yes, but I'll present person clip to bespeak and beryllium with my family. I won't beryllium making immoderate rash decisions.'