Kroos speaks out in defense of Ronaldo.

The former Real Madrid star spoke out in defense of his former teammates after Portugal's disappointing opening match on June 18.

Kroos defended his former teammate.

Cristiano Ronaldo became the focus of debate at the 2026 World Cup after Portugal's 1-1 draw against the Democratic Republic of Congo. As criticism grew, Toni Kroos was one of the few big names to publicly defend the Portuguese superstar.

The former German star believes the public is being too harsh on Ronaldo after a disappointing performance. Kroos emphasized that judging a world- class player based on just a few moments of skill in a match is unreasonable.

"Judging Ronaldo based on just a few moments is unfair. Ronaldo isn't on the pitch because of his past fame or image value. He's still the best striker for Portugal right now," Kroos stated.

Ronaldo had an unfavorable opening match. Photo: Reuters .

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Kroos's statement comes amidst a recent controversy surrounding Thierry Henry's analysis of an attacking situation, in which he suggested Ronaldo made a decision that was not optimal for the team. The former French star even argued that Portugal needed goals more than Ronaldo was seeking scoring opportunities for himself.

These debates reflect the increasing pressure on Ronaldo at what is considered the final World Cup of his career. At 41, every performance of his is scrutinized more closely than that of any other player.

However, from a team perspective, Portugal's chances of progressing are still very high. The draw against the Democratic Republic of Congo means the European representatives haven't been able to pull ahead in Group K, but they still have two matches ahead against Uzbekistan and Colombia.

In particular, the match against Uzbekistan is seen as an opportunity for Ronaldo and his teammates to seek their first victory. If they achieve a favorable result, Portugal will have a significant advantage going into the final match against Colombia.

The 2026 World Cup has only just begun. With a deep squad and many stars in midfield like Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva, and Vitinha, Portugal is still considered a strong contender for a place in the knockout round. And as Kroos emphasized, it's too early to conclude that Ronaldo has become a problem for this team.

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Source: https://znews.vn/kroos-len-tieng-bao-ve-ronaldo-post1661166.html