Portugal’s Cancelo Questions Ronaldo’s Role Amid Euro 2024 Campaign.
Joao Cancelo, the Portuguese defender, has raised eyebrows with his assertion that the national team isn’t solely reliant on Cristiano Ronaldo, who recently turned 39 years old.
According to Goal.com, despite Ronaldo’s impressive goal-scoring record, leading the charts with 54 goals in 2023, Cancelo believes Portugal’s success isn’t solely dependent on their veteran captain as they gear up for Euro 2024.
Cancelo shocking Ronaldo admission
Speaking to RTP, Cancelo stated, “He is an important player and spent 15 years competing with Messi for the Ballon d’Or, but the peak of a footballer’s career is between the ages of 25 and 32. He is an important player for us, but the national team does not depend entirely on him.”
Acknowledging Ronaldo’s age, Cancelo suggests that while Ronaldo remains significant, the team boasts other talented players who can contribute to their success.
Despite being past his prime, Ronaldo’s influence is undeniable, and he’s expected to play a pivotal role in Portugal’s Euro 2024 campaign.
His stellar performance during qualifying, outscoring top talents like Harry Kane and Kylian Mbappe, underscores his enduring impact.
However, Portugal’s squad is not short on attacking prowess, with talents like Bruno Fernandes, Goncalo Ramos, Joao Felix, Bernardo Silva, and Rafael Leao offering depth and options.
Both Ronaldo and Cancelo are among the players rested for Portugal’s upcoming friendly against Sweden, with their return anticipated for the subsequent match against Slovenia.
As Portugal prepares for the European championship, Cancelo’s comments add an intriguing dimension to the team’s dynamic, suggesting a potential shift in reliance from the iconic Ronaldo to a more diversified approach in pursuit of success on the international stage.
Sports Buddy reported about Ronaldo’s former teammate Mavididi describing Cristiano Ronaldo as a nightmare.
Mavididi spent time at Juventus from 2018 to 2020, coinciding with Cristiano Ronaldo’s €115 million transfer to the club.
Speaking about his experience with the 39-year-old Al-Nassr forward, Mavididi said:. “Cristiano invented his position, he played wherever he wanted to play. It was crazy having him as a teammate.
