Portugal Rejects Claims of Ronaldo-Only Passing Plan After World Cup Draw

Portugal are still debating Cristiano Ronaldo’s influence after a 2026 World Cup opening-round draw with DR Congo and the criticism that followed the team’s performance. In that context, teammate Francisco Conceicao said there was never any instruction to pass only to Ronaldo.

“We were not given any order to deliver only to Ronaldo,” Conceicao said. “With Ronaldo’s goal-scoring ability, I don’t think there is anyone like him in that area. But we have no obligation to pass to him specifically. Cristiano is here to help us, like every other player in the national team.”

The Juventus winger added that he plays instinctively and passes to whoever he believes is in the best position to receive the ball. “I do not have time to think about who is next to me or identify his face. Everything happens by instinct, in a split second,” he said.

Conceicao also praised Ronaldo as a model for the squad, especially because of his hunger to keep winning. “Cristiano is an example because of his career, and mainly because of his hunger. At 41, he still wants to win every day and trains as if it were his last training session. For me, for the new generation and for everyone here, he is an example,” he said, adding that if Ronaldo still has that desire after achieving so much, the rest of the team should be even hungrier to reach even a fraction of what he has accomplished.