Giani Kiriță Critiques Cristiano Ronaldo’s Performance at World Cup 2026

Cristiano Ronaldo, at 41, remains a focal point of discussion during the 2026 World Cup. Following Portugal’s 1-1 draw against the Democratic Republic of Congo, the captain’s performance sparked various reactions, notably from Giani Kiriță, a former Romanian international with four caps.

While Lionel Messi kicked off the tournament with a hat-trick for Argentina, Ronaldo had a subdued match, failing to register a shot on target or make significant contributions to the game. Both football legends have made history at this World Cup, being the first players to participate in six different final tournaments.

Giani Kiriță on Ronaldo’s Situation: “Teammates Aren’t Supporting Him”

Kiriță believes the disparity in treatment between Messi in Argentina and Ronaldo in Portugal is glaringly obvious. “It’s evident that Argentina plays for Messi, but in Portugal, it seems his teammates are not supporting him. There’s a total rift in the locker room. The players want to play without him, essentially saying, ‘Enough, let us play without you,'” he stated during an appearance on Digi Sport Matinal.

This statement follows a match where Ronaldo appeared visibly frustrated by the lack of passes directed towards him, gesticulating at his teammates after the final whistle.

Kiriță Discusses Turkey’s World Cup Elimination

The former Turkish league champion with Bursaspor also addressed the turmoil surrounding the Turkish national team, which, under coach Vincenzo Montella, was eliminated after just two matches, suffering defeats to Australia (0-2) and Paraguay (0-1).

“The significance of football for Turks cannot be understated. Leaving the tournament in this manner is a true national disaster. Among the teams that have impressed so far in the World Cup, I would highlight England, Germany, Brazil, Argentina, and perhaps surprisingly, the USA,” Kiriță remarked.

He added, “As Europeans, we often think we can easily defeat the Americans, but the reality has changed drastically. Football has grown immensely in the United States, and the Americans have shown at this tournament that they could be one of the surprises of the competition.”