Portugal's Conceicao insists there's no obligation to feed the ball to Cristiano Ronaldo.

During the 2026 World Cup Group K football match between Portugal and the Democratic Republic of Congo at the Houston Stadium in Houston on June 17, 2026, Portugal’s forward #07 Cristiano Ronaldo was seen reacting, as captured in a photo by RONALDO SCHEMIDT / AFP.

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On Sunday, Portugal winger Francisco Conceicao stated that his team-mates did not feel pressured to pass to Cristiano Ronaldo, despite scrutiny surrounding the veteran superstar’s role in their underwhelming World Cup opener.

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Critics have raised questions about whether the 41-year-old Ronaldo’s limited mobility is negatively impacting Portugal’s chances, following a lackluster 1-1 draw with the Democratic Republic of Congo.

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Conceicao clarified that there was no obligation for players to pass to Ronaldo if other team-mates were in more advantageous attacking positions, saying “We don’t feel the need to pass him the ball” and “I pass it to whoever I think is in the best position and unmarked”.

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According to Conceicao, Ronaldo is viewed as “just another member of the squad” that relies on “every individual for the collective to function”.

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Conceicao praised Ronaldo, stating “Cristiano is an example because of his career and the hunger he still possesses at 41 years of age… An example of leadership and the goals he scores” and noting that “There is no one like him when it comes to scoring goals… He is here to help, just like any other player”.

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Portugal is set to face Uzbekistan in their second Group K match in Houston on Tuesday, and they are eager to secure three points to revive their campaign.

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Conceicao acknowledged that the team was deeply disappointed with their performance, saying “No one takes it harder than we do” and “We felt firsthand that we didn’t do our job in the best possible way”.

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Conceicao expressed the team’s desire to demonstrate their quality and win the next match, saying “If things don’t go well, there will be more pressure and more criticism” and “We want to show our quality and win the next match”.