Cristiano Ronaldo, the iconic footballer from Portugal, is being viewed as just another player by his teammates, according to Francisco Conceicao. This surprising assertion comes as Portugal prepares for a crucial match against Uzbekistan following a draw in their opening game of the FIFA World Cup 2026. The team must secure a victory to advance to the knockout stage, and this controversy surrounding Ronaldo could potentially impact their performance.

During a press conference ahead of their second World Cup match, Francisco, who plays for Juventus, stated, 'While no one can score like Cristiano, we don’t feel compelled to pass to him constantly. We aim to distribute the ball to whoever is in a better position on the field. Ronaldo, like any other player, is here to support the team.'

Following their draw against DR Congo, Portugal is feeling the pressure. Francisco acknowledged the team's need to perform better, saying, 'Before we respond to anyone else, we must demonstrate to ourselves that we can recover. We want to move past this challenging period swiftly. The entire team must collaborate, and Cristiano is here to contribute to our success, just like the rest of us.'