Former World Champion Yuri Djorkaeff Criticizes Portugal Team for Sideling Cristiano Ronaldo at 2026 World Cup

Portugal was eliminated in the round of 16 at the 2026 World Cup after a 1-0 loss to Spain, but Cristiano Ronaldo remained a central figure throughout the tournament. At 41 years old, Ronaldo delivered some impressive moments but also faced significant criticism and disappointment. Unexpected support came from 1998 World Cup winner Yuri Djorkaeff, who defended Ronaldo and criticized his Portuguese teammates for effectively ostracizing him.

In an interview with RMC, Djorkaeff said, "If you call up Cristiano Ronaldo, the team should play for him, and that was not the case." He accused Ronaldo's teammates of not supporting him or creating the right conditions for his success, describing it as a form of boycott. Djorkaeff emphasized that it was unreasonable to expect Ronaldo to change his playing style after decades of consistency and insisted that the team should have been built around him.

Djorkaeff also criticized the Portuguese squad for trying to place all the responsibility on Ronaldo despite the team's overall talent. He noted that other key players like Vitinha and Bruno Fernandes should have stepped up instead of relying solely on Ronaldo to decide matches.

Meanwhile, former England player Chris Sutton expressed that many Portuguese players likely blamed Ronaldo for the team's early exit, suggesting he was the reason for their struggles in the final third. Former Spanish international César Azpilicueta also found it strange that Gonzalo Ramos, who scored the winning goal against Croatia, did not play a single minute in the tournament, hinting at possible internal team issues.

Ronaldo's performances brought him back into the spotlight, but the debate continues in Portugal over whether the team maximized the potential of their greatest star or left him to battle alone, as Djorkaeff claims.