Portugal’s early exit from the 2026 FIFA World Cup after losing to Spain in the Round of 16 has reignited debate over Cristiano Ronaldo‘s role in the national team and how Portugal built its tactics around the 41-year-old captain.

Speaking on RMC Sport’s After Foot, 1998 FIFA World Cup winner Youri Djorkaeff made headlines by claiming Ronaldo did not receive the support he needed from his teammates. “If you call Cristiano Ronaldo up to the national team, then the whole team has to play to maximize his strengths. But that didn’t happen at all,” Djorkaeff said.

The former France international went even further, alleging that Ronaldo had effectively been “boycotted” by his own teammates. “It was obvious Ronaldo was boycotted by his teammates. They didn’t pass him the ball or put him in positions where he could score. If you don’t want to build the team around Ronaldo, then don’t call him up. But if you bring him to the World Cup, the team has to know how to make use of his qualities.”

Djorkaeff argued that Portugal failed to maximize the abilities of the all-time leading scorer in men’s international football and suggested the lack of chemistry between Ronaldo and his teammates contributed to the team’s disappointing campaign. His comments come amid growing scrutiny of Portugal throughout the tournament.

Following Portugal’s opening draw against DR Congo, Ronaldo’s sister Katia Aveiro publicly criticized some players for failing to support her brother, even suggesting they had damaged his dream of winning the World Cup.

Midfielder Bruno Fernandes also became a target of criticism after the tournament, with many fans accusing him of failing to connect with Ronaldo on the pitch. The online backlash became so intense that Fernandes reportedly disabled replies on one of his social media posts.

Portugal’s elimination has fueled a wider debate among fans. Some agree with Djorkaeff that the team never built a system suited to Ronaldo’s strengths, while others argue that at 41 years old, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner can no longer be the focal point of the national team and that the squad should not revolve around one player.

Although opinions remain divided, Djorkaeff’s remarks have once again intensified discussions over Ronaldo’s role and the reasons behind Portugal’s disappointing World Cup campaign.

Sources: kenh14, gettyImages