Former England international Rio Ferdinand has publicly defended Cristiano Ronaldo following criticism of his performance in Portugal’s opening match of the 2026 World Cup against the Democratic Republic of Congo, which ended in a 1-1 draw. Speaking on his YouTube channel, Ferdinand argued that intense scrutiny of Ronaldo is inevitable given his illustrious career and status in football. He emphasized that Ronaldo anticipates and accepts heightened attention, particularly when results aren’t optimal. Ferdinand also highlighted Ronaldo’s crucial role in securing Portugal’s qualification for the World Cup, dismissing suggestions he should be dropped from the starting lineup. He pointed out that Portugal might not have qualified without Ronaldo’s goals during the qualifying phase. Ferdinand believes national team coach Roberto Martínez will continue to rely on Ronaldo throughout the tournament, given his importance to the team’s success, and praised his enduring competitive spirit despite being 41 years old.