Cristiano Ronaldo won’t like hearing that! His peak is long past, Portugal can do without him, the legend’s national teammate says

Club football is taking a break, the national teams are now playing first. Cristiano Ronaldo will be in action in a Portuguese jersey. But his national teammate Joao Cancelo certainly didn’t please him with one of his statements.

Cristiano Ronaldo may have already celebrated his 39th birthday in February, but he is still good enough for at least the top league competition in Saudi Arabia. The fact that he scores goals even in a competition that he says is better than the French Ligue 1 helps him to still be part of the Portuguese national team.

Despite the tough competition, the winner of five Ballons d’Or is a constant in Roberto Martínez’s team. The experienced coach has many other options, but still relies on the contribution of the national team’s all-time top scorer.

Yet there is increasing talk that Ronaldo is the man holding back the potential of the whole team. This opinion has been expressed by former Chelsea player and French European champion Frank Lebauf, for example. He says Portugal can win the Euros, but only if Cristiano doesn’t play.

After all, the Al-Nassr player has already dropped out of the squad during the World Cup. As the then coach Fernando Santos later revealed, Cristiano Ronaldo did not take it well at all.

Some of his national teammates also have their own opinion about the importance of the big star for the Portuguese national team. Now, for example, Joao Cancelo has publicly revealed it.

Peak by Cristiano Ronaldo is behind him, says Cancelo

Cristiano Ronaldo scored 54 competitive goals in 2023. More than Erling Haaland, Harry Kane, Kylian Mbappé. But in Saudi Arabia. However, the Portuguese himself has no doubts about his qualities. On the contrary, he praises the quality of the Saudi Pro League.

But the fact is that he also addresses some of the statements and behaviour on and off the pitch rather than his performances. According to some, the rivalry with Lionel Messi has ruined his mental health. How do you think he will react to the words of his national teammate Joao Cancelo?

Cancelo may not have said anything bad, but his words could affect relations in the locker room. “Cristiano spent 15 years competing with Messi for the Ballon d’Or, but the peak of a footballer’s career is between the ages of 25 and 32,” Goal quotes him as saying.

“He’s still animportant player for us, but the Portuguese national team is not dependent on him,” the central defender added in an interview with RTP.

It is worth mentioning that Portugal also have stars like Goncalo Ramos, Joao Félix, Bernardo Silva and Rafael Leão at their disposal in attack.

Source: RTP, Goal, Transfermarkt