Portugal star backs Cristiano Ronaldo amid claims national team thrives without him

Portugal winger Francisco Conceicao has replied to claims that A Selecao are good in the absence of Cristiano Ronaldo. While the former addressed this opinion, he thinks Ronaldo will be an asset to the national team as long as he continues producing goals.

Cristiano Ronaldo's massive experience in international football

Cristiano Ronaldo is currently the top goal scorer and most-capped international player of all time in the men's game. The 40-year-old has amassed 144 goals and produced 46 assists in 226 games across all competitions, helping Portugal win three titles - Euro 2016 and the UEFA Nations League (2019, 2025).

Francisco Conceicao drops opinion on Cristiano Ronaldo

While Ronaldo remains a key figure in Roberto Martinez's starting XI, many pundits and former players have slammed him for holding Portugal back in recent years. During an interview with Sport TV, Conceicao provided his verdict o this saying:

"It's normal for people to always have their opinion, everyone has their own, but we feel that Cris, for everything he does and continues to do... There's nothing that the facts don't say. If he continues to score the goals he has been scoring, without a doubt he is a help to the National Team."

Cristiano Ronaldo has impressed for A Selecao since their quarter-final exit at Euro 2024. He has amassed 13 goals in his last 14 matches across all competitions and was crucial in their 2025 Nations League success.

Portugal boss Roberto Martinez makes BIG reveal on Cristiano Ronaldo

Portugal boss Roberto Martinez recently revealed that they are planning on taking three strikers, consisting of Cristiano Ronaldo, to the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The prestigious tournament is set to take place later this summer in the United States, Canada, and Mexico from June 11 to July 9.

While Cristiano Ronaldo continues to be Portugal's top-choice striker, he is not expected to play every single minute at the World Cup. The likes of Goncalo Ramos and Joao Felix have been in red-hot form this season and could provide competition to the Al-Nassr icon.

Martinez told the Lusa news agency:

"The door to the national team is always open, but the competitiveness makes it very difficult to get in. But, at the moment, we think we need a third striker and that this will be an important position for the World Cup."

Cristiano Ronaldo visibly struggled to create an impact at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, producing one goal and zero assists in five games a A Selecao were eliminated in the quarter-finals.