Francisco Conceicao affirmed that Portuguese players are under no obligation to pass the ball to Cristiano Ronaldo, while calling on the entire team to unite to overcome pressure after the disappointing draw against DR Congo at the 2026 World Cup.
Winger Francisco Conceicao spoke out to defend Cristiano Ronaldo from criticism following Portugal’s disappointing draw at the 2026 World Cup, while asserting that the players do not feel compelled to pass the ball to the 41-year-old captain.
Speaking at the press conference ahead of the crucial clash against Uzbekistan, the Juventus star emphasized that Ronaldo is still just a part of the collective aiming to achieve good results at the tournament.
“Cristiano Ronaldo is a special player. When it comes to scoring ability, no one can compare to him. But we do not feel a need or an obligation to pass the ball to Ronaldo. I will pass to the player who is in the most favorable position and unmarked. He is here to help the team, just like every other player,” Conceicao shared.
Conversely, the 23-year-old winger still had high praise for his senior teammate. According to Conceicao, Ronaldo is an example of professionalism and a desire to win despite possessing almost every title in his career.
“He is a role model because of what he has achieved and because of his fighting spirit every day. Ronaldo always trains with determination as if it were the last training session of his career. If he still maintains such great motivation, then the rest of us must push even harder. The team needs everyone to operate effectively,” Conceicao added.
The Juventus player also admitted that the whole team is under pressure after the 1-1 draw against DR Congo in the opening match. He believes that the best way to respond to the doubts is to perform on the pitch. “Before answering anything, we need to prove to ourselves that the team has the ability to react strongly. We want to quickly get through this difficult period,” he emphasized.
Conceicao’s remarks come in the context of Ronaldo facing much criticism following a lackluster performance against DR Congo. The superstar born in 1985 had only 25 touches of the ball throughout the 90 minutes of play, leading to many opinions suggesting that he is becoming a burden to the national team’s style of play.
Previously, midfielder Joao Neves also caused controversy when asserting that Ronaldo is no longer an exception in the Portugal lineup. The PSG star argued that CR7 is currently just a member of the collective, tasked with contributing to the team just like other players.
Currently, coach Roberto Martinez and his team face pressure to secure a victory against Uzbekistan to improve their position in the group and soothe public criticism. After the match against the Central Asian representative, Portugal will close out the group stage with a showdown against Colombia on June 28.
