Cristiano Ronaldo has taken to social media to address the swirling rumors that he is being 'boycotted' by his teammates in the Portuguese national team. This comes after Portugal's disappointing draw against the Democratic Republic of Congo in their opening match of the 2026 World Cup, which has put Ronaldo at the center of criticism.

Many have suggested that the iconic player is past his prime and is hindering the team's performance. Reports from Portuguese media have indicated that several players, including Bruno Fernandes, Joao Neves, Vitinha, and Pedro Neto, have been reluctant to pass the ball to Ronaldo during matches. This situation has raised concerns about potential internal conflicts within the team.

Vitor Pinto, a journalist from the Portuguese newspaper Record, noted that the ongoing criticism directed at Ronaldo could lead to significant divisions within the squad. In response to these allegations, Ronaldo swiftly dismissed claims of being 'boycotted.' He posted a photo of himself training with the national team, captioned simply: 'Always united.'

Ronaldo further urged fans to focus on what they can control, reinforcing the message of unity within the team. His posts appear to be a reassurance to supporters that the draw against the Democratic Republic of Congo was merely an accident and that the team is committed to winning their next match against Uzbekistan, scheduled for June 24.

Historically, Portugal has faced similar challenges, recalling that they began their Euro 2016 campaign with a draw against Iceland. Former teammate Toni Kroos also defended Ronaldo, stating that judging him based on a few situations is unfair. Kroos emphasized that Ronaldo should not be evaluated solely on his past fame and image, asserting that he remains the best striker for Portugal at this time.