Former England captain Wayne Rooney has publicly criticized Cristiano Ronaldo following Portugal’s disappointing 0-0 draw against a lower-ranked Democratic Republic of Congo in their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign. Rooney suggested Portugal needs to move beyond relying on Ronaldo, implying the team’s performance suffered due to an over-dependence on the veteran player. The draw was considered a setback for Portugal, who were widely expected to win convincingly. Rooney’s comments have sparked debate about Ronaldo’s continued role and effectiveness within the national team. He did not elaborate on specific tactical adjustments but emphasized the need for Portugal to evolve its approach. The result places Portugal in a challenging position within their qualifying group, requiring stronger performances in future matches. This marks a significant public assessment of Ronaldo’s impact by a fellow football icon.