As the dust settles on the 2026 World Cup, Cristiano Ronaldo's exit from the tournament has reignited discussions about his role within the Portuguese national team. Following Portugal's disappointing defeat to Spain in the Round of 16, Youri Djorkaeff, a legendary figure in football, has voiced his concerns regarding the lack of support Ronaldo received from his teammates.

Djorkaeff, who was part of the French squad that won the World Cup in 1998, stated that the biggest issue for Portugal was not Ronaldo himself but rather how the team was structured around him. He pointed out that if a player of Ronaldo's caliber is included in the squad, the team must adapt its play style to maximize his strengths. However, Djorkaeff observed that this did not happen during the tournament.

“If you call up Ronaldo, the team has to play for him. But that didn’t happen at all,” Djorkaeff remarked on RMC. He expressed that it felt as though the team was not providing the necessary support for Ronaldo to thrive, which ultimately led to their early exit.

At 41 years old, Ronaldo continues to receive praise for his competitive spirit and influence on the field, yet Djorkaeff criticized the Portuguese side for relying too heavily on him without building a suitable system around him. “Everyone knows Cristiano. He has played this way for many years. So what do they expect? You cannot expect Ronaldo to change completely at this point in his career,” he added.

Djorkaeff emphasized that Portugal needs to make a clear decision: either utilize Ronaldo effectively or build a strategy that does not revolve around him. “You cannot put Ronaldo on the pitch and expect him to solve everything by himself. If Ronaldo is in the lineup, everyone must understand his role and support him better,” he explained.

Moreover, Djorkaeff criticized other star players on the Portuguese team, such as Bruno Fernandes and Vitinha, for not stepping up and taking responsibility during crucial moments, instead of waiting for Ronaldo to make a difference.

Despite facing criticism for his performance at this age, Ronaldo leaves the World Cup with the status of an icon. The debate surrounding how Portugal utilized him may continue, but it is clear that CR7 remains a name that commands global attention.