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Former England forward Michael Owen has come out strongly in support of Cristiano Ronaldo after Portugal’s disappointing 1-1 draw with DR Congo at the World Cup. The Al-Nassr star faced intense criticism for his underwhelming display, especially when compared to Lionel Messi’s stunning hat-trick for Argentina in their 3-0 win over Algeria. Owen, however, believes Ronaldo remains a proven performer on the biggest stages and backed him to ‘silence’ his doubters in the next fixture.

The result in Group K triggered widespread debate, largely because Messi had produced a masterclass just the previous night. The Argentina captain’s treble helped his team stay on course for a potential second consecutive world title after their 2022 success in Qatar.

In his column for the Daily Mail, Owen dismissed the growing criticism aimed at the 41-year-old forward. He wrote: “It didn’t help Cristiano Ronaldo that Lionel Messi scored a hat-trick the night before Portugal played, but I’m not accepting the negativity directed at him.”

Owen went on to explain how Ronaldo’s playing style has evolved throughout his career. The former Manchester United and Real Madrid icon, now more of a penalty-box striker, is not as deeply involved in general build-up play as he once was. Owen emphasised that this does not diminish his value to the team. “But hasn’t he always played like this, to a degree?” Owen asked. “He has never been a player, especially in recent years, who gets involved heavily in the game. He will always be there for the decisive moments. If he’s not scoring, people find it too easy to blame Ronaldo. At 41, he will naturally face questions.”

Despite going through a 10-match scoring drought at major tournaments, Ronaldo’s career has been defined by his ability to bounce back under pressure. Owen expressed confidence that the Portuguese captain will rediscover his scoring touch soon. “How many times has this happened and he’s silenced everyone in the next game?” Owen added. “If you select Ronaldo, you must accept what he brings to the table – and I wouldn’t be surprised if he hits back with a hat-trick of his own against Uzbekistan.”

Portugal manager Roberto Martinez now faces the task of reigniting his team’s attacking spark as they prepare to take on Uzbekistan on Tuesday. Securing all three points will be vital for their World Cup qualification campaign in Group K. With the spotlight firmly on Ronaldo, the football world will be watching closely to see if he can end his dry spell and lead Portugal closer to the ultimate prize in international football.