Rúben Dias, defender for the Portugal national team, has stated that the squad is ignoring criticism directed at Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal’s performances at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, choosing instead to remain focused on the matches ahead.
Portugal drew 1–1 with the Democratic Republic of the Congo in their opening match of the tournament. The result prompted widespread criticism of the team’s performance, particularly that of Cristiano Ronaldo.
The 41-year-old Portuguese forward was once again unable to find the back of the net, extending his goal drought in major international competitions to 10 matches. The statistic has attracted considerable attention from both the media and football analysts.
Responding to the criticism, Dias said that scrutiny is a natural part of football and that the players are paying little attention to it. He emphasized that the squad’s primary focus is on improving its overall performance and preparing for the upcoming fixtures.
The Portuguese defender also confirmed that he has recovered from injury and is ready to feature in Portugal’s next match against Uzbekistan. The encounter is expected to be crucial to Portugal’s hopes of advancing from the group stage.
Writer:Salima Aryaei
