After all the controversy surrounding him, Cristiano Ronaldo must perform in the second World Cup match.
Cristiano Ronaldo, as usual, led the way. During training in sunny Palm Beach, the 41-year-old appeared in high spirits, joking with his teammates. Self-doubt? Not a trace! He also dispelled alleged team tensions with two words: ‘Siempre Unidos’ (always united), he wrote under a training photo on Instagram, with Joao Neves giving a thumbs-up.
However, behind the scenes of the World Cup co-favorite, significant turmoil is brewing after the disappointing 1-1 draw against DR Congo. Superstar Ronaldo is at the center of the debate. Is the five-time world footballer still good enough, or is he rather hindering the title mission?
The opinions of prominent TV experts speak clearly. Thierry Henry accused the five-time world footballer of pure egoism on FOX, while Kevin-Prince Boateng suggested on Australian television that Portugal would be a ‘better team’ without him. Christian Streich explained on ZDF that he would likely forgo him for tactical reasons. And Christoph Kramer speculated that many Portuguese national players would secretly prefer to play without Ronaldo.
‘He is no different from the other players,’ PSG professional Neves had downplayed Ronaldo’s role after the opening match, which further triggered a shitstorm and scandal on social media. An alleged Instagram comment from Neves’ girlfriend, Madalena Aragao, who has a million followers and reportedly called Ronaldo ‘stubborn,’ further fanned the flames – but it was likely fake. Even Ronaldo’s sisters had gotten involved.
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And the superstar himself? So far, he has only commented via social media after the first game in Houston. ‘Focused on the mission,’ he wrote most recently on Sunday. Instead, his teammates are diligently trying to conjure unity in all press briefings.
‘If you want to row with us, then we row. The boat will not capsize,’ responded full-back Diogo Dalot to the strong criticism that has been raining down on the team, and particularly Ronaldo, from the outside since Saturday. ‘We are all in the same boat. Together, we are strong.’
National coach Roberto Martínez also vehemently defended his decision to include Ronaldo in the starting lineup up front. ‘If you need goals, you must have Cristiano Ronaldo on the pitch,’ said the 52-year-old after the opening match. What’s interesting: Martínez, who will step down after the World Cup, is reportedly set to become Ronaldo’s new club coach at Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia, according to the French portal RMC.
And so, Ronaldo is likely to be in the starting eleven again on Tuesday against Uzbekistan, even though he has been waiting for a tournament goal for ten games in the World Cup and European Championships and did not take a single shot on goal against the Congolese.
With all his experience, he is likely just as certain that he must perform now in his sixth World Cup.