France and Arsenal legend Thierry Henry has criticised Cristiano Ronaldo after Portugal’s 1–1 draw with DR Congo in their World Cup group match in Houston.
Ronaldo, who is 41, failed to score in the game and had a quiet outing, registering just 25 touches. A key moment that drew attention came when he chose to shoot from a difficult angle instead of passing to a better-positioned teammate Bruno Fernandes, with the effort going wide.
Speaking as a pundit on FOX Sports, Henry said football decisions should prioritise the team over individual ambition. He argued that Ronaldo’s movement disrupted a clearer scoring opportunity, suggesting that better positioning could have created an easier chance for a teammate to finish.
Henry’s comments quickly sparked debate, especially given Ronaldo’s milestone of becoming the oldest outfield player to start a World Cup match at 41 years and 123 days. The Portugal captain also joined an elite group of players to feature in six World Cups.
Meanwhile, in the same tournament, England captain Harry Kane impressed with a brace in a 4–2 win over Croatia, taking his World Cup tally to 10 goals and equalling Gary Lineker’s record.
Former England striker Gary Lineker praised Kane’s overall game, calling him the greatest English striker in history, while Alan Shearer also backed his consistency at the highest level.
England continue their group stage campaign against Ghana next, as the World Cup action intensifies.
Cristiano Ronaldo, popularly nicknamed “Penaldo” by some online critics, has come under fresh criticism after another underwhelming performance, with sections of supporters questioning why he continues to start despite what they describe as weak and inconsistent displays.
Many fans are now asking whether he should still be in the starting XI at this stage of the World Cup, given his current form. One fan added: “Jokes apart, I wasn’t expecting Ronaldo to be a full time player or frequent starter in this World Cup. He would have been better if he motivates them more than playing, coming in as a substitution alone can change a lot in a match but we all know Ronaldo has ego and pride from onset but that still doesn’t override the fact that he is a great player and he did his best in football history just the way Messi did” — gentle soul, a die-hard football fan and lover of Penaldo ✌️
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