Ricardo Costa, an ex-FC Porto defender, has spoken out in support of Cristiano Ronaldo regarding his role within the Portuguese national squad. Costa argues that Ronaldo deserves credit for his ability to maintain elite performance standards during the 2026 World Cup.
In an interview with O Jogo, the former international player pointed out that Lionel Messi, frequently compared to Ronaldo, also struggled during the World Cup final, where Argentina was defeated 1-0 by Spain. Costa emphasized that the Portuguese coaching staff made tactical selections they deemed necessary for the group.
He suggested that the public discourse surrounding these decisions would be significantly different if Portugal had reached the final stage. Costa concluded by noting that Messi faced similar difficulties during his final match, yet that particular performance is rarely criticized to the same degree.
