Cristiano Ronaldo was one of the biggest talking points of the World Cup before Portugal’s campaign ended with a Round of 16 loss to Spain. At 41, the ex-Real Madrid star remained at the center of attention throughout the tournament. One of the latest voices to weigh in is former France forward and World Cup winner Youri Djorkaeff, who believes Ronaldo was let down by his own teammates.

World Cup winner claims Ronaldo was “boycotted”

“If you bring Cristiano Ronaldo, then the team has to play for Cristiano Ronaldo, and that didn’t happen at all,” Djorkaeff told RMC. “It was obvious he was boycotted by his own team. They didn’t provide him with service or put him in the best positions to succeed.”

“Everyone knows how Cristiano plays”

Djorkaeff argued that Portugal should never have expected Ronaldo to reinvent himself at this stage of his career.

“We all know Cristiano. He’s played the same way throughout his career. What were they expecting, that he’d suddenly change?” the French legend said. “Either you don’t call him up or you don’t put him on the field. But if you do, then you have to build the team around him.”

Djorkaeff also criticized Portugal’s supporting cast, suggesting too many players relied on Ronaldo instead of taking responsibility themselves.

Djorkaeff questions Portugal’s approach

“What I didn’t like about this Portugal team, despite all its talent, was that everyone seemed to pass the responsibility onto Cristiano,” Djorkaeff said. “At some point, Vitinha, Bruno Fernandes and the rest also had to step up. You can’t keep expecting Cristiano to do everything. He isn’t the only one who should be making the difference.”

Get closer to the game! Whether you like your soccer of the European variety or that of this side of the pond, our AS USA app has it all. Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more. Plus, stay updated on NFL, NBA and all other big sports stories as well as the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.

And there’s more: check out our TikTok and Instagram reels for bite-sized visual takes on all the biggest soccer news and insights.