Former Portugal international Bruno Alves has publicly thrown his support behind Cristiano Ronaldo, who has faced criticism following Portugal's disappointing 1-1 draw against DR Congo in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
Ronaldo, who is participating in his sixth World Cup, came under fire for several missed opportunities during the opening match. However, Alves, a teammate of Ronaldo's during their Euro 2016 triumph, took to Instagram to voice his unwavering belief in the veteran forward.
"Cristiano, we trust you no matter what," Alves wrote on his social media platform, directly addressing the ongoing scrutiny. He also took aim at individuals with no footballing background who he felt were unqualified to judge the seasoned player.
The public show of support from Alves comes at a time when Ronaldo was seen visibly frustrated, walking off the pitch alone after the draw against DR Congo. This moment highlighted the pressure and disappointment surrounding the team and its star player.
Alves has a history of advocating for the Portuguese national team to secure the World Cup title, believing it would be a fitting and deserved culmination of Ronaldo's illustrious career. This sentiment underscores the deep respect and admiration many of his former teammates hold for him.
Currently, Ronaldo is navigating his longest goal drought in major international tournaments. He has not found the back of the net in his last 10 appearances, a statistic that has fueled some of the criticism he is now facing.
Portugal's upcoming fixture is against Uzbekistan. The team is under immense pressure to deliver a strong performance, especially after what has been described as a "catastrophic" start to their World Cup campaign.
The unwavering support from figures like Bruno Alves serves as a reminder of Ronaldo's enduring legacy and the faith many still place in him, despite recent challenges and statistics.
