“Barely had a kick in the game”

Piers Morgan has said Bruno Fernandes had a subpar performance compared to Cristiano Ronaldo in Portugal’s 2026 FIFA World Cup opener against DR Congo. Widely regarded as favorites to win the tournament, Seleção das Quinas were held to an unexpected 1-1 draw against the Leopards.

In the game’s aftermath, Cristiano Ronaldo found himself under intense criticism, with critics pointing at his poor statistic of failing to register a shot on target despite playing the full 90 minutes.

Speaking on Sports Uncensored, Morgan, who is a lifelong Ronaldo fan, leapt to the defense of the forward. He believed the criticism should have been aimed at Fernandes, whom he claimed had a ‘really bad game’.

“Have you watched the Portugal game? I thought the one who had the really bad game was Bruno Fernandes,” Morgan said. “Many people have tried to convince me he is a player of the season in the Premier League this season. I think Declan Rice was. It doesn’t matter, but Fernandes supposedly is up. And I thought he barely had a good kick in the game.”

Morgan reminded critics that Ronaldo currently plays as a centre-forward and not a winger, stressing that he is not getting the services required from his teammates. He claimed the 41-year-old is often scapegoated and treated unfairly, a measure he asserted does not always apply to his archrival Lionel Messi.

“Now Ronaldo playing in the way he does now, as a number nine rather than a flying winger. He needs the service from the team, but he didn’t get the service. He then becomes the fall guy immediately, but if Messi has a bit of an off game, that never happens. And conversely, if Ronaldo had raked somebody’s calf like Messi did, all hell would have broken lose and he would have been sent off. So, there is a double standard in the way that Messi and Ronaldo get treated,” he added.

Several footballers turned pundits, including Thierry Henry and Kevin-Prince Boateng, turned on Cristiano Ronaldo following Portugal’s draw on Wednesday.

Cristiano Ronaldo’s sister likes post attacking Bruno Fernandes after Portugal draw WC opener

Cristiano Ronado’s sister Katia Aveiro threw her support behind a post berating Bruno Fernandes for performing poorly against DR Congo. While most of the criticism was aimed at Ronaldo, Aveiro tried to reduce the unwanted attention her brother was receiving by liking an Instagram accusing Fernandes of failing to turn up on the evening.

A section of the Ronaldo fans have suggested that Fernandes sabotage the forward’s performance by refusing to pass to the ball to him. Cristiano Ronaldo and co. are back in action against Uzbekistan on Tuesday, June 23.