The Portugal national team is at the center of one of the biggest controversies of the 2026 World Cup. After the draw between Portugal and the Democratic Republic of Congo, PSG midfielder João Neves stated in a flash interview about Cristiano Ronaldo: “We know what Cristiano has done for us, for our team and for the world of football. But at this moment, he and we know that it's not different. He's just another player to help.”

What happened?

João Neves' latest Instagram post exceeded 500,000 comments, with messages like: “Show some class and keep Ronaldo's name out of your mouth, unless it's with respect.”

Why is this important for Portugal?

The wave of criticism also extended to the player's girlfriend, actress Madalena Aragão, who was forced to disable comments on her posts after a barrage of attacks.

What's next?

At the press conference on Saturday, June 20, Diogo Dalot was the team's spokesperson and addressed the controversy with serenity, making it clear that the group is shielded from external criticism. “No matter how much information comes to us, I think they had a very enlightening conference yesterday to realize that the group was completely shielded. It doesn't have to be another topic and we're always carrying the same load.”

DateEvent
June 20Press conference

The Manchester United defender also left a direct message to those who do not believe in the team. “We have millions of people who want Portugal to win, we have some people who probably don't want Portugal to win. If you want to row with us, we'll row, the boat won't stop. We focus mainly on the people who want to continue with us, who want to support us, and that's our energy.”