Portugal Rejects Claims It Must Play Through Cristiano Ronaldo

Portugal continues to debate Cristiano Ronaldo’s influence after a 0-0 draw with DR Congo in the opening round of the World Cup and criticism of the team’s performance. The discussion has focused on whether teammates feel pressure to direct play toward the star forward.

Francisco Conceição, a Portugal international, said there is no obligation to pass only to Ronaldo. “With Ronaldo’s goal-scoring ability, I don’t think there is anyone like him in that area,” he said, “but we have no duty to pass to him specifically. Cristiano is here to help us, like every other player in the national team.”

Conceição, who plays for Juventus, added that he himself passes to the teammate 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 recognize his face. Everything happens by instinct, in a split second,” he said.

He also praised Ronaldo as an example because of his career and, above all, his hunger to keep winning. Conceição said that at age 41, Ronaldo still trains as if every session were his last, and that both younger players and the rest of the squad should be even hungrier to achieve even a fraction of what he has accomplished.