Juventus winger Francisco Conceicao has called on Portugal’s younger players to emulate the relentless drive of 41-year-old teammate Cristiano Ronaldo as they prepare for a crucial World Cup clash against Uzbekistan, following a disappointing opening draw.

At just 23, Conceicao was not yet born when Ronaldo made his senior debut for Sporting Lisbon in August 2002. Yet, he continues to draw motivation from the five-time Ballon d’Or winner’s enduring professionalism and commitment.

“He’s a role model – through his career, through the hunger he shows every single day, always super motivated to train as if it were his last session,” Conceicao said, speaking to Portuguese outlet Record.

“If he has achieved so much and still maintains that level of desire, then ours must be even greater. He’s here to contribute like everyone else, and for the team to perform, we all need to be united.”

Cristiano Ronaldo experienced a frustrating outing in Portugal’s World Cup opener against the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which ended in a 1-1 draw. The result reignited discussion about his role in Roberto Martinez’s starting eleven. With that behind them, the squad will look to produce a stronger display when they meet Uzbekistan in Houston on Tuesday night.

Despite the scrutiny following the stalemate, Conceicao maintained that the team remains calm and determined. “When things don’t go as planned, we’re the first to feel it,” he admitted. “No one suffers more than we do; we experience it directly.”

He continued, “The pressure is always there – we’re used to it. All of us play for top clubs and understand what’s expected. The key is how we respond in the next match.”

Carrying a strong family legacy, Conceicao follows in the footsteps of his father, Sergio Conceicao, the former AC Milan manager who represented Portugal at the 2002 World Cup.

Reflecting on that connection, the younger Conceicao said with a smile, “I don’t think it went too well for them; they were knocked out in the group stage! But it’s a great source of pride knowing my father played in a World Cup and now I’m here too. Hopefully, our story will end differently this time. He told me they went in with a lot of ambition, aiming to go far – but one mistake can change everything.”

In team news, Benfica defender Tomas Araujo has been ruled out of Tuesday’s match after participating only in limited training in Palm Beach on Monday, according to Portuguese daily A Bola.

Meanwhile, Uzbekistan coach Fabio Cannavaro remained upbeat despite his side’s 3-1 defeat to Colombia in their first-ever World Cup match. In a post-match statement, Cannavaro praised his players for their “strong mentality and, in particular, a very encouraging second-half performance.”