Diogo Dalot has defended Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo and hit back at critics following Portugal’s disappointing start to their 2026 World Cup campaign.
Portugal defender Diogo Dalot has issued a strong response to the growing criticism surrounding the national team, insisting the squad remains united despite a disappointing start to their World Cup campaign.
The Manchester United full-back spoke out after Portugal’s frustrating 1-1 draw against the Democratic Republic of Congo in their opening Group K match. The result sparked widespread criticism from fans and pundits, with much of the attention focused on captain Cristiano Ronaldo.
It all ends square 🤝#FIFAWorldCup
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) June 17, 2026
Dalot acknowledged that the days following the draw had been difficult but insisted the team remains focused on its objectives. According to the defender, criticism is an unavoidable part of football, particularly when expectations are as high as they are for Portugal.
“The criticism will come, but the message we have is that millions of people want Portugal to win and there are those who don’t want Portugal to win,” Dalot told reporters. “I’ve been in football long enough to know that criticism is part of the process. There is constructive criticism too.”
The 27-year-old stopped short of identifying specific individuals but suggested that some people are actively hoping for Portugal to fail. He stressed that the players are determined to prove their resilience and show that the squad remains strong despite the disappointing opening result.
Dalot also came to the defence of Ronaldo, who has faced renewed scrutiny after another quiet performance at a major tournament. The Portugal captain is competing in his sixth World Cup and has once again found himself at the centre of debate regarding his role in the team.
Cristiano Ronaldo is goalless in his last 10 Portugal games at major tournaments:
𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟐 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 𝐂𝐮𝐩:
❌ vs. Uruguay
❌ vs. South Korea
❌ vs. Switzerland
❌ vs. Morocco𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒 𝐄𝐮𝐫𝐨𝐬:
❌ vs. Czechia
❌ vs. Türkiye
❌ vs. Georgia
❌ vs. Slovenia
❌ vs. France… pic.twitter.com/sWQnSYh7uO— B/R Football (@brfootball) June 17, 2026
According to Dalot, Ronaldo is more than capable of handling the pressure that comes with being one of football’s most recognizable figures. He emphasized that the squad’s belief in their captain remains unchanged and that the veteran forward continues to be an important leader both on and off the pitch.
The defender also revealed that the Portugal squad had discussed the dangers of social media criticism before the tournament began. As a result, many players have intentionally distanced themselves from online discussions in order to maintain focus.
Dalot believes the setback against DR Congo may ultimately prove beneficial if it helps the team eliminate distractions early in the tournament and channel all of their energy into securing a positive response against Uzbekistan in their next group-stage match.
