England legend Wayne Rooney has come to Cristiano Ronaldo’s defense following Portugal’s draw against the Democratic Republic of Congo at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
According to the former Manchester United striker, the criticism directed at Ronaldo is unfair, as he received virtually no service from his teammates throughout the match.
“Neither Bruno Fernandes nor Bernardo Silva created a single clear-cut chance for Cristiano during the entire game. Not only did they fail to create opportunities for him, but they couldn’t score themselves either,” Rooney said.
He also questioned the media’s treatment of Portugal’s other star players.
“I don’t understand the calls for Ronaldo to be dropped to the bench when he isn’t being supplied with the ball. Bruno was expected to be Portugal’s best player at this World Cup and was even considered a contender for the tournament’s Ballon d’Or. What exactly did he do in this match, and why isn’t the media judging him by the same standards?” Rooney added.