Ronaldo’s fans turn on Portugal players

There is not a single football fans out there who is not calculating Portugal as one of the favorites of the World Cup. In fact, it could be said that they are the third-strongest team after France and Spain. Players like Cancelo, Mendes, Dias, Silva, Fernandes, Neves, Vitinha, Leao and Neto are perceived as one of the world’s best, and for a reason. So, if the outsiders are considering them as one of the favorites, you can only imagine what are Portuguese thinking and expecting from their national team. All these footballers are playing in elite clubs and are used to pressure, but the World Cup is the biggest stage and the pressure is the highest here. And it doesn’t help when additional pressure is coming from bias fans of one of their own teammates.

Is Ronaldo holding Portugal hostage?

Off course, we are talking about Cristiano Ronaldo and his woeful performance again DR Congo.

“When you get old like that, for sure you cannot do the same efforts that you can make. But still, I have too much respect for him. He’s one of the greatest players to play the game" said the DR Congo midfielder Ngal'ayel Mukau when asked if he had some special plan for stopping Ronaldo. Indeed, the former Real Madrid forward was bad against the Leopards. In 90 minutes against the Leopards, Cristiano didn't make a single shot on target or key pass, didn't complete a dribble or create a big chance.

Fifty-two years, three days and one Wissa's header that made history - and Ronaldo miserable!

But instead of criticizing one of the world’s best ever players for holding his extra-talented teammates hostage, Ronaldo’s fans made a stunning counter-attack, ‘bombarding’ the social media accounts of Portugal players. The players targeted in particular were Bruno Fernandes, Joao Neves, Vitinha and Pedro Neto,

"Pass the ball to Ronaldo", "Respect the best player in history" or "You would be nothing without Ronaldo" are some of the messages that are repeated in the comment sections of Portuguese internationals. What is worse, Cristiano Ronaldo's sister has liked an Instagram post attacking Bruno Fernandes, igniting reports of tension in the Portuguese camp after their 1-1 draw with DR Congo. The 41-year-old's elder sibling Katia Aveiro liked an Instagram post by a Brazilian page accusing Fernandes of performing for United, but failing to turn up in a Portuguese shirt. Most of the comments supporting Ronaldo however was in English and not Portuguese language, suggesting that the player’s overwhelming support came from other countries rather than his native one.

WORLD CUP - GROUP STAGE (ROUND 2)

Group C

Saturday 20.06.

01.00: (4.70) Scotland (3.50) Morocco (1.80)

03.30: (1.12) Brazil (10.0) Haiti (16.0)

Group D

Friday 19.06.

22.00: (1.65) USA (3.85) Australia (5.50)

Saturday 20.06.

06.00: (2.10) Turkey (3.35) Paraguay (3.60)