“It’s All Noise”: Ruben Dias Defends Cristiano Ronaldo After World Cup Struggles Spark Debate

Cristiano Ronaldo’s performance in Portugal’s opening FIFA World Cup clash against DR Congo may have raised eyebrows, but inside the camp, the belief in their captain remains stronger than ever.

After Portugal’s underwhelming 1-1 draw in their first Group K fixture, much of the spotlight fell on the 41-year-old superstar, who made history by becoming the oldest outfield player to start a World Cup match. However, it was far from a vintage Ronaldo performance.

The legendary forward managed just 25 touches throughout the game and failed to register a shot on target, an assist, or even complete a successful dribble — numbers that quickly fueled criticism from fans and pundits alike.

But Portugal defender Ruben Dias has made it clear that the squad is not paying attention to the outside noise.

Speaking to reporters ahead of Portugal’s crucial next match, Dias stood by his captain and dismissed the criticism as part of the game.

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“Cristiano has dealt with pressure his whole career — at club level, in international football, and on the biggest stages. This is nothing new for him,” Dias said.

The Manchester City defender stressed that criticism should not be aimed at one player alone, especially when football is a collective effort.

“People always focus on Cristiano because he is the center of attention, but we are all part of this. It’s not something unusual. It has always been this way,” he added.

Dias also revealed that the team is intentionally shutting out external opinions as they focus on bouncing back stronger.

“Criticism is just noise. It’s part of competition. We are blocking out unnecessary distractions,” he said.

Portugal will now turn their attention to a must-win clash against Uzbekistan on June 23, before wrapping up the group stage against Colombia five days later.

With qualification still wide open, all eyes will once again be on Ronaldo — not just to respond to his critics, but to prove that age is still just a number on football’s grandest stage.