Portugal arrived in the United States as genuine contenders for the FIFA World Cup 2026 title, but just five days into their campaign, uncomfortable questions began to surface.
The 1-1 draw against DR Congo exposed vulnerabilities, inviting criticism from pundits and fans alike, but the loudest conversation surrounding Portugal has had little to do with tactics.
Instead, it has centred on Cristiano Ronaldo and the social media storm gathering around the veteran forward.
Ronaldo, appearing in his 23rd World Cup match two decades after his tournament debut, struggled to make an impact in Houston last Wednesday, managing just three shots, none of them on target, and had only 25 touches.
The performance intensified scrutiny on his role in the team, with Ronaldo now going 10 consecutive matches at major international tournaments without scoring.
Former Arsenal and France striker Thierry Henry pointed to an incident where Ronaldo moved into the path of a pass that could have resulted in a simple finish for Bruno Fernandes, saying "The team needs to score, not you."
Others went even further, calling on Portugal coach Roberto Martinez to drop Ronaldo from the starting XI before the team wastes another World Cup opportunity.
However, what followed online quickly moved beyond legitimate football criticism, with sections of Ronaldo's fanbase reacting furiously to a comment made by Portugal's goalscorer against DR Congo, Joao Neves, which was soon taken out of context and interpreted as a slight against Ronaldo.
The situation escalated when a fake screenshot began circulating online, falsely claiming Neves' girlfriend, actress Madalena Aragão, had told a fan to ask their "GOAT" to retire, labelling Ronaldo selfish.
Even Georgina Rodriguez, Ronaldo's fiancée, reportedly came across the image, believed it to be genuine and responded publicly.
The online frenzy only intensified, with clips from the DR Congo match, training sessions and even older footage being repackaged and shared as supposed evidence of divisions within the squad.
However, Portugal's manager, Roberto Martinez, has remained steadfast, saying that the squad remains united and that Ronaldo remains a central figure in the project.
The debate now follows Portugal everywhere, and Tuesday's Group K clash against Uzbekistan in Houston carries significance beyond the result, offering an opportunity to silence the noise.
