No obligation: Portugal's Francisco Conceição addresses Cristiano Ronaldo 'passing' controversy

Ronaldo has come under heavy scrutiny after his performance vs DR Congo.

Portugal started the 2026 FIFA World Cup tournament with a 1-1 tie against DR Congo. It is reigniting a discussion over Cristiano Ronaldo that has been simmering since the side came to the competition.

Portugal dominated the ball against DR Congo. They put together more than 720 passes, yet the squad only had one shot on goal the whole game.

Following Portugal’s opening 1-1 tie with Congo DR, critics targeted the team and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Conceicao clears the air after Ronaldo’s poor performance

Portugal’s Francisco Conceição denied that the squad is obsessed with passing to Cristiano Ronaldo at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

“For me, there is no player like Cristiano when it comes to his quality of scoring goals in that regard. But look, we don’t have the obligation to pass him the ball or the need to… I just pass the ball to whoever is better positioned unmarked. Cristiano is here to help like any other player on the national team.”

Conceição’s reaction contradicts the notion that Portugal are acting against its captain’s interests. Cristiano Ronaldo’s days of blowing past defenders with sheer speed are long gone. But his presence on the pitch continues to influence how opponents approach the game.

Cristiano Ronaldo, the oldest outfield player in World Cup history, did not take a shot on target. The scoreless night extended his streak at big international events to 10 consecutive matches, dating back to the 2022 World Cup.

That type of finish has fuelled outside criticism. Voices such as Thierry Henry claim Ronaldo’s presence may be disrupting Portugal’s rhythm. Head coach Roberto Martínez and his players have always dismissed the concept, referring to it as noise rather than substance.

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