Wayne Rooney jumped to Cristiano Ronaldo's defence after Portugal's 1-1 draw with DR Congo on June 18. Rooney, a former Manchester United teammate of Ronaldo, praised the veteran forward's clever movement.
What happened?
Portugal were expected to win easily, but DR Congo put up a strong fight, with Yoane Wissa equalizing just before half-time.
Rooney's analysis
Rooney explained that Ronaldo's presence posed problems for DR Congo's defence, creating space in front of the back four. He's taking that option away from defenders, Rooney said.
Reaction to Rooney's comments
Fans were split on Rooney's analysis, with some expressing disbelief and others praising his insight. One fan commented: Someone needs to state facts while the clowns are pushing their agendas.
Ronaldo played the full 90 minutes but struggled to make an impact, spurning a couple of chances to score. He has now gone 10 consecutive major tournament games without netting for Portugal.
What's next for Ronaldo?
Ronaldo will be desperate to silence his critics when Portugal face Uzbekistan on June 23. Portugal's final group stage match is against Colombia on June 27.
Rooney's comments came after Thierry Henry received praise for his analysis of Ronaldo's struggles. Henry, a former Arsenal player, has been providing commentary on the World Cup.
The 2026 World Cup has seen some impressive performances so far, with Lionel Messi scoring a hat-trick for Argentina and Kylian Mbappe netting two goals for France. Erling Haaland also scored a brace for Norway.
Ronaldo, who turned 41 in February, will be looking to regain his form and help Portugal progress in the tournament. Rooney's defence of his former teammate has sparked a lively debate among fans and pundits alike.
Portugal's draw with DR Congo was a surprise result, given the huge gap in rankings between the two teams. DR Congo were given a 0.09% chance of winning the tournament by Opta's Supercomputer.
The match was played at the Houston Stadium, with Joao Neves putting Portugal 1-0 up in the 6th minute. Yoane Wissa's equalizer just before half-time gave DR Congo a crucial point in the group stage.
Ronaldo's performance was heavily criticized by fans, with some calling him a joke. However, Rooney's analysis highlighted the veteran forward's clever movement and impact on the game.
The debate surrounding Ronaldo's performance will continue, with Portugal's next match against Uzbekistan just around the corner. Can Ronaldo silence his critics and help Portugal progress in the tournament?