“The team has to score, not you”
World champion accuses Ronaldo of selfishness
June 18, 2026 – 11:35 a.mReading time: 3 minutes
Portugal makes a mistake at the start against outsiders DR Congo and Cristiano Ronaldo remains pale. A world champion even accuses the superstar of not playing for the team.
Co-favorites Portugal are heading into the season with a disappointing performance World Cup 2026 started. The 2016 European champions only managed a 1-1 draw against the outsiders from the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Captain and superstar Cristiano Ronaldo remained ineffective for almost the entire game and was hardly involved in his team’s game. After 90 minutes, he even recorded fewer ball contacts (25) than Congolese goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi-Nzau (35). Visibly frustrated, he then crept out of the stadium, ignoring the 60 or so waiting journalists and refusing to comment.
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It didn’t take long until the first voices began to be heard as to whether Portugal still needed “CR7” or whether he wasn’t even a burden for the team. France’s world champion went particularly hard Thierry Henry with Ronaldo in court.
“For all the people at home, one thing is very important,” said the former Arsenal goalscorer in his role as a TV pundit on Fox: “The team has to score, not you have to score.” According to Henry, “CR7” refuses to run routes that would put his teammates in good finishing positions because he wants to score goals himself. The Frenchman illustrated this with a scene from the second half: “Because he wants to score a goal, he stands in Bruno Fernandes’ way.” To Ronaldo’s credit, he couldn’t see his better-positioned teammate behind him during this action.
Ronaldo opponent: “Not the same as before”
DFB world champion Christopher Kramer said before kick-off ZDFhe would be interested “if you gave the whole squad truth serum, who would then say: Better with or without Ronaldo.” He believes that “this Portuguese team is so full of world class that he can take a little something away from them.” The former Bundesliga coach Christian Streich agreed: “Portugal’s defense plays with one man less and that is very difficult to compensate for.”
And Ronaldo’s opponents also seem to have lost their fear of him: “We know that he’s not the same as he used to be. He’s a little older now,” said Congo’s Ngal Ayel Mukau, adding that special man-marking was “not really” needed.
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