In Portugal’s national-team orbit, Cristiano Ronaldo has again become the centre of a wider debate, with a former Germany international questioning the public response to the country’s former iconic captain.
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The former German footballer criticised Portuguese football figures for not openly standing behind Ronaldo, who remains one of the defining names in the history of the national side.
He argued that the situation around the forward cannot be placed solely at the door of the coach. “The problem is not only the manager,” he warned.
The comments underline how Ronaldo’s place in Portugal continues to carry significance beyond a single selection decision, touching on the treatment of a player who long represented the team as captain and leading figure.
