Portugal defender Ruben Dias has dismissed recent criticism directed at captain Cristiano Ronaldo, describing the surrounding talk as mere noise and an ordinary part of football. The comments come after Portugal's 1-1 draw against DR Congo in their FIFA World Cup 2026 opener, where Ronaldo struggled to make an impact.
Ronaldo's Difficult Outing
The 41-year-old forward finished the match with only 25 touches, attempting three shots without hitting the target, and winning just one duel. This performance highlighted how effectively he was contained by the DR Congo defense, marking one of his least involved games in a World Cup start with the second-fewest touches recorded.
Ronaldo's frustration adds to growing concerns over his form in major tournaments, as he has now gone ten consecutive matches without scoring in major competitions, an unwanted streak despite his experience and global status.
Dias Defends Teammate
Speaking after the external chatter surrounding the veteran forward, Dias insisted the team remains unaffected and focused on its objectives. "It's not an issue for us," Dias stated. "It's insignificant, just a bit of fuss and noise. It's all part of the game."
Dias further elaborated: "First and foremost, the criticism isn't directed at just one player. Cristiano is a major focus of attention, but I think we're all in the firing line. Above all, apart from what I've just said, I don't think anything out of the ordinary is happening. It's always been like this since I've been here. I believe it will continue to be so in the future. In the end, it's noise. We isolate ourselves from it and focus on doing our thing."
Henry's Blunt Assessment
Meanwhile, former Arsenal striker Thierry Henry delivered a blunt assessment of Ronaldo's performance, suggesting that the forward's pursuit of personal success may have denied Portugal a crucial goal. Speaking on Fox News, Henry stressed that the focus should be on the team scoring rather than individual goals. "One thing that's important, people, please at home: the team needs to score, not you need to score," Henry said.
Henry used a specific phase in the match to illustrate his point, suggesting that Ronaldo's positioning may have limited space for his teammates. He explained that when Cancelo had the ball, Ronaldo could have made a run to force defenders toward the six-yard box, potentially opening up space for Bruno Fernandes. "If you make that run here, you make the defender take a decision to crash the six-yard box," Henry said. "But because he wants to score, he goes into the path of Bruno Fernandes. If he goes into that six-yard box, you would have had to follow him, and then he would have been a tap-in for Bruno Fernandes. But because he wants to score, he goes into the path of the back pass. You see both players, and it's easier for you to defend."
