Portugal’s early exit from the 2026 FIFA World Cup after losing to Spain in the round of 16 has reignited the debate over Cristiano Ronaldo’s role in the national team and how Portugal have built their tactics around the 41-year-old captain.
Speaking on RMC Sport After the foot1998 FIFA World Cup winner Youri Djorkaeff made headlines by claiming that Ronaldo didn’t get the support he needed from his teammates. “If you call Cristiano Ronaldo to the national team, then the whole team must play to maximize its strengths. But this did not happen at all,” Djorkaeff said.
The former France international went even further, claiming that Ronaldo had actually been “boycotted” by his own teammates. “It was obvious that Ronaldo was boycotted by his teammates. They didn’t pass him the ball or put him in positions where he could score. If you don’t want to build the team around Ronaldo, then don’t call him up. But if you take him to the World Cup, the team must be able to exploit his qualities.”
Djorkaeff argued that Portugal failed to maximize the abilities of the all-time leading scorer in men’s international football and suggested that the lack of chemistry between Ronaldo and his teammates contributed to the team’s disappointing season. His comments come amid growing scrutiny of Portugal throughout the tournament.
After Portugal’s opening draw against DR Congo, Ronaldo’s sister Katia Aveiro publicly criticized some players for not supporting her brother, even suggesting they had damaged his dream of winning the World Cup.
Midfielder Bruno Fernandes also became the subject of criticism after the tournament, with many fans accusing him of failing to connect with Ronaldo on the pitch. The online reaction became so intense that Fernandes reportedly disabled replies to one of his social media posts.
Portugal’s elimination fueled a wider debate among fans. Some agree with Djorkaeff that the team never built a system suited to Ronaldo’s strengths, while others argue that at 41, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner can no longer be the focal point of the national team and that the team should not revolve around just one player.
While opinions remain divided, Djorkaeff’s remarks have once again intensified discussions about Ronaldo’s role and the reasons behind Portugal’s disappointing World Cup season.
Sources: kenh14, gettyImages
