Portugal failed Ronaldo at World Cup — Djorkaeff

France football legend Youri Djorkaeff has criticised Portugal’s players for what he described as their failure to properly support captain Cristiano Ronaldo during the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Djorkaeff, a member of France’s 1998 FIFA World Cup-winning squad, argued that Portugal did not adapt their style of play to maximise Ronaldo’s strengths, suggesting the veteran forward was effectively isolated by his teammates.

Speaking to The Real Champs, as quoted by RMC Sport, the former France international said the Portuguese squad failed to create the conditions needed for their captain to perform at his best.

“When you have Cristiano Ronaldo, the team must adapt to play for him, which did not occur at all. One could argue that he was boycotted by his own teammates,” Djorkaeff said.

“They failed to support him and did not create optimal conditions for his performance.”

The former attacking midfielder added that Portugal’s talented squad relied too heavily on the five-time Ballon d’Or winner instead of sharing responsibility on the pitch.

“What I found disappointing about the Portugal national team, despite its considerable talent, was the tendency for everyone to shift the burden onto Cristiano,” he said.

According to Djorkaeff, experienced players such as Vitinha and Bruno Fernandes should have assumed greater responsibility during the tournament rather than expecting Ronaldo to solve every problem.

“At some point, players like Vitinha, Bruno Fernandes and others needed to rise to the occasion and share the responsibility. It is unreasonable to expect Cristiano to be the sole solution to every problem. He is not the only player capable of making a significant impact,” he added.

Portugal’s World Cup campaign ended in the Round of 16 after a defeat to Spain, a result that sparked renewed debate over Ronaldo’s role in the national team.

Following the tournament, the 41-year-old announced that the 2026 edition would be his final FIFA World Cup appearance but stopped short of confirming his retirement from international football.

His future with Portugal remains uncertain as new head coach Jorge Jesus has indicated he would continue to select Ronaldo, provided the veteran forward remains fit and available for national team duty.