Francisco Conceição said Portugal has no obligation to pass to Cristiano Ronaldo, citing instinctive decision-making during play ahead of Uzbekistan match.
1:44 PM
Francisco Conceição addressed the controversy surrounding Cristiano Ronaldo's role in Portugal's squad during a pre-match press conference ahead of Saturday's World Cup fixture against Uzbekistan in Houston.
The 23-year-old Juventus forward acknowledged Ronaldo's goal-scoring ability but stated that passing decisions on the field are made instinctively rather than by design. "Cristiano has his quality to score goals, there is no one like him in that regard, and we do not have that obligation, that necessity to pass the ball to him," Conceição said. "I pass the ball to whoever is most unmarked."
Conceição explained that the speed of play leaves no time for deliberate tactical choices about which teammate receives the ball. "It is not that I have time to think about which colleague is at my side, we do it by instinct, it is milliseconds of a second, there is no time for that, and Cristiano is here to help like any other teammate," he added.
The comments come after Portugal drew 1-1 with the Democratic Republic of Congo in its opening Group K match. Ronaldo, 41, had a subdued performance in that game, recording three shots without finding the target and failing to connect with Portugal's playmakers including Bruno Fernandes, Vitinha, and João Neves.
Ronaldo is competing in his sixth World Cup, matching Lionel Messi's record. He has accumulated ten matches and 33 shots without a goal across major international tournaments, including World Cups and other competitions.
The 41-year-old forward leads a 27-man Portugal squad announced Tuesday for the 2026 tournament, his final World Cup appearance.
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