Former French footballer Youri Djorkaeff has voiced his concerns regarding the support Cristiano Ronaldo has received from his teammates during the World Cup 2026. In a recent interview with RMC, Djorkaeff stated that the Portuguese national team has not established a suitable playing style to maximize Ronaldo's capabilities.

Djorkaeff pointed out that if Ronaldo is included in the team, the squad must be structured to play to his strengths. He noted, "If you bring Cristiano Ronaldo into the lineup, the team must play for Cristiano Ronaldo. But that has not happened. You can see that he is being hindered by his own teammates. They are not supporting him and not putting him in the best conditions to succeed."

The 1998 World Cup champion believes that Ronaldo, now at 41 years old, is not the type of player who will change his style of play. Therefore, he insists that Portugal must clearly define how to utilize him if they continue to offer him opportunities. Djorkaeff remarked, "We all know Cristiano. He always plays like this. What do you expect, that he will suddenly change? Either you don’t call him up, or you let him play. But if Ronaldo is on the field, you have to build the team around him."

Moreover, Djorkaeff criticized the Portuguese players for placing too much responsibility on Ronaldo. He stated, "What I don’t like about the Portuguese national team is that everyone seems to push the responsibility onto Cristiano. Players like Vitinha, Fernandes, and others also need to step up. You can’t always wait for Ronaldo to do everything. He is not the only one who can make a difference."

Ronaldo's journey in the World Cup 2026 came to an end when Portugal was eliminated by Spain in the round of 16. Despite not leading his team deep into the tournament, the veteran striker received praise for his performances at the age of 41.

On July 7, Spain defeated Portugal 1-0, securing their spot in the quarter-finals of the World Cup 2026.