Read for 2 minutesUpdated: June 22, 2026 10:32 AM IST
Cristiano Ronaldo’s lackluster start to his record sixth World Cup against DR Congo last week has intensified criticism of the Portugal superstar’s waning abilities.
Ronaldo endured a forgettable night in the Group K opener against Congo after playing the full 90 minutes in a 1-1 draw with just three shots. The 41-year-old soon became the face of criticism, with pundits and ex-footballers decrying Ronaldo’s contribution, without becoming obsessed with the idea of scoring goals from the box.
Ronaldo’s disappointing performance was in stark contrast to the hat-trick his long-time rival Lionel Messi scored for Argentina in a 3-0 win over Algeria earlier in the day. Their recent performances have widened the gap between the two, with former Ballon d’Or winner Michael Owen backing Ronaldo to turn around his poor form.
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Portugal next face Uzbekistan in Houston on Tuesday night and Owen said he expects a hat-trick of responses from the record international goalscorer.
“Cristiano Ronaldo didn’t benefit from Lionel Messi’s hat-trick the night before Portugal, but I don’t criticize him,” Owen wrote in his DailyMail column.
‘Hasn’t he always played like that?’
“But how many times has that happened and he shuts everyone down in the next game? If you’re picking Ronaldo, you have to accept him for what he is – and I wouldn’t be surprised if he responded with a hat-trick of his own against Uzbekistan,” said the former Manchester United and Real Madrid striker.
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Owen brushed aside critics for taking aim at Ronaldo’s one-dimensional style, insisting he has long been a box-to-box predator.
“But hasn’t he always played like that? He’s never been the type of player, especially in recent years, to immerse himself in the game.
“He’ll be there for the big moments. If he doesn’t score, it’s too easy to blame Ronaldo. At 41, he’ll be questioned.”