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Cristiano Ronaldo’s family have come forward to defend the Portugal captain following their unexpected 1-1 draw with DR Congo in the opening match of the 2026 World Cup. As criticism mounts over the veteran forward’s subdued display in Houston, his sisters have spoken out to redirect the conversation away from him.

Elma Aveiro insists Portugal were unfairly denied a win

Ronaldo recorded just 25 touches during the game against DR Congo — his lowest-ever count in a full match at a major international tournament. The 39-year-old also extended his goalless streak to 10 consecutive appearances across the World Cup and European Championships. Despite widespread scrutiny of the Al-Nassr striker’s performance, his sister Elma Aveiro defended him online, asserting that Portugal had been wronged and that many observers do not grasp the immense pressure players face on the pitch, as reported by RMC.

Posting a picture of the five-time Ballon d’Or winner, Elma wrote: “I believe that beginnings are tough, but endings are good. You are the ones out there on the field. It’s easy for people to talk. And besides, having victory taken away like this, it’s not easy.”

Katia Aveiro highlights team issues rather than blaming Ronaldo

Ronaldo’s other sister, Katia Aveiro, also took to social media to show her support. However, her remarks centred on the team’s collective shortcomings instead of targeting individual players. She questioned why the squad appeared to lose its rhythm during the draw and suggested that the players lacked coordination, rather than criticising Ronaldo directly.

According to Portuguese publication Record, Katia posted: “As if by magic, they forgot how to pass to one another, recover balls, launch counter-attacks. The game happened only between midfield and defence. Strange, this World Cup. Strange. But let’s go. Bad starts, great endings. Until the end.”

Thierry Henry criticises Ronaldo’s ‘selfish’ approach

While family members have rallied around him, some football legends have been far less sympathetic. Former Arsenal star Thierry Henry was especially critical of the 41-year-old’s influence on Portugal’s attacking rhythm. Speaking to Fox Sports, Henry argued that Ronaldo’s determination to score was detrimental to the team’s overall offensive play.

Henry stated bluntly: “Because he absolutely wants to score, he gets in the way of Bruno Fernandes. It’s the team that needs to score, not you.” His assessment resonated with fans and pundits across social media, many of whom questioned whether Roberto Martinez’s squad had become overly dependent on their talisman, who has now gone ten straight major tournament matches without finding the net.

A four-year goal drought continues

Following the frustrating draw, Portugal will aim to regain momentum when they face Uzbekistan on June 23, before wrapping up their Group K campaign against Colombia in a crucial encounter.

The statistics paint a concerning picture for the former Manchester United and Real Madrid superstar. Ronaldo’s last goal in a major international competition dates back to Portugal’s opening match of the 2022 World Cup against Ghana. Since then, he has failed to score in both the remainder of that tournament and the 2024 European Championship.

Can Portugal recover their form in the World Cup?