Cristiano Ronaldo’s sister says the Portugal captain was focused by “heartless phrases” in a bid to “erase who he’s” earlier than the five-time Ballon d’Or winner turned the primary participant to attain at six World Cup tournaments.
The oldest outfield participant on the finals had gone 5 video games and not using a World Cup objective and scored as soon as in his earlier eight appearances on the match earlier than putting twice as a part of his aspect’s 5-0 win over Uzbekistan in Houston on Tuesday.
“This week has been robust,” mentioned Katia Aveiro. “It’s been a darkish week stuffed with unfair criticism and heartless phrases thrown at one another, as in the event that they had been making an attempt to erase careers constructed on sweat, ache, self-discipline and inexplicable willpower.
“They wished to harm, they wished to inflict ache, they wished to humiliate. They wished to speak about Cristiano as if he not had a spot, as if his profession was over, as if every little thing he gave to soccer, Portugal and the world may very well be forgotten in a single day.
“They forgot that he was a person, a son, a father, a brother and easily a human being. It was disgusting to learn and listen to a lot barbarity and ingratitude.”
World Cup 2026: Cristiano Ronaldo ‘stress’
Ronaldo is the all-time prime worldwide scorer however had his second-fewest touches ever in a World Cup match as Portugal drew their opener 1-1 with DR Congo, taking possession 25 occasions as a part of a group who had one try on track.
Head coach Roberto Martinez has repeatedly defended his number of the 41-year-old, who’s his nation’s record 145-goal scorer.
“Unsurprisingly, he responded as he all the time did – on the pitch,” mentioned Aveiro. “With tenacity. With fury in his eyes.
“With the power of a person born to battle. With the guts of a warrior who by no means shied away from work, by no means gave up. He was all the time beneath stress and by no means let outdoors noise outline who he was.
“That is Cristiano Ronaldo. Son of Dolores and Dinis. Brother of Katia, Hugo, and Elma. A household man, a tireless employee, a top-level skilled, an athlete who has made the goals of tens of millions come true and continues to rise each time somebody tries to place him down.
“They might criticise, they could doubt, they could attempt to belittle him. However they are going to by no means be capable of erase who he’s: a fighter, a frontrunner, an instance of loyalty, self-discipline, and braveness.”
Portugal vs Uzbekistan: Ronaldo ‘a legend’
Solely 9 gamers have bettered Ronaldo’s complete of 10 targets on the match, though fellow fashionable greats Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe lead the all-time scorer standings.
Argentina skipper Messi has 5 targets on the present version to take his tally to 18 and sit two forward of France icon Kylian Mbappe, who has 4 targets on the 2026 match and is joint-second within the historical past books alongside former Germany hotshot Miroslav Klose.
“Once more, he didn’t want grand speeches,” Aveiro mentioned of the Al-Nassr talisman, who scored 30 targets in all competitions final season and gained the Saudi Professional League regardless of going on a mid-season strike for 2 matches.
“He got here to indicate why he was right here. He spent 23 years breaking boundaries and he got here to indicate us why he deserves to be right here.
“He got here to remind us why he’s a legend. It doesn’t matter what occurs, that is destined for him. They need to realize it by now.
“I’m happy with you, my brother. At all times. Till the day I die. As a result of I do know the place you come from, I do know every little thing you fought for to get right here, I do know very nicely… what’s in retailer for you.
“Actual individuals by no means stay silent. Actual individuals reply with work. And also you, my brother, are and all the time might be an excellent man.”
World Cup 2026: What Ronaldo mentioned about Portugal
Ronaldo claimed he doesn’t care about his rival strikers and mentioned the criticism Portugal had confronted had been “troublesome” and “very sturdy, particularly in the direction of me”.
“An excellent advantage is having the ability to management your self,” he added. “That’s what I attempt to do. I’ve 23 or 24 years of expertise and I can deal with it nicely.
“Earlier than the sport I talked about some insights I had, as a result of criticism all the time comes as a chance to enhance.
“Right this moment I used to be the perfect participant on the pitch, tomorrow it will likely be another person. If we’re united, we are able to go very far,” he added.
The five-time Champions League winner dismissed an enquiry a few potential closing towards Argentina.
“I don’t know what to reply, because it’s a meaningless query,” he responded. “It could be nice however crucial factor was to win to get by way of the group and be ready for what’s to return.
“Now we have a troublesome recreation towards Colombia however the necessary factor was to get by way of the group and we did.
“I helped the group, which performed very nicely, and we transfer on. We improved, that’s life.
“There are setbacks in life, in video games, and we all the time wish to enhance… public opinion was very harsh on us, particularly on me and the coach, however I’ve been on this occupation for 23 years.
“When every little thing goes nicely, Cristiano is doing nicely. When issues go improper, he’s previous, he’s retired.
“I all the time [make an impact]. Ultimately, I’m there. I actually imagine in what I do. My profession has all the time been like this.”
World Cup 2026: Portugal fixtures
Right here’s the complete confirmed and potential schedule for Ronaldo on the FIFA World Cup 2026. You can even discover out the UK TV schedule for the video games here.
| Date | Match | Consequence | Stage | Time (BST) | ET | PT | Channel |
| June 17 | DR Congo | 1-1 | Group | 18:00 | 13:00 | 10:00 | BBC |
| June 23 | Uzbekistan | 5-0 | Group | 18:00 | 13:00 | 10:00 | ITV |
| June 28 | Colombia | Group | 00:30 | 19:30 | 16:30 | BBC | |
| July 1/2/3 | TBC | Spherical of 32 | TBC | TBC | TBC | TBC | |
| July 5/6/7 | TBC | Spherical of 16 | TBC | TBC | TBC | TBC | |
| July 10/11 | TBC | Quarter-finals | TBC | TBC | TBC | TBC | |
| July 14/15 | TBC | Semi-finals | TBC | TBC | TBC | TBC | |
| July 18 | TBC | Third-placed match | 22:00 | 17:00 | 14:00 | TBC | |
| July 19 | TBC | Last | 20:00 | 15:00 | 12:00 | BBC, ITV |
Cristiano Ronaldo World Cup schedule
Ought to Portugal justify their standing as favourites to win their group, they are going to face a third-placed group from group D, E, I, J or L within the final 32.
Ronaldo’s group will meet the runners-up from that part if they arrive second and the group that wins it in the event that they advance as one of many best-performing third-placed groups.
Group L incorporates England, Croatia, Ghana and Panama. You may see the complete bracket on FIFA’s web site.
