Luis Castro defends Cristiano Ronaldo following Portugal's World Cup exit

Former Al-Nassr head coach Luis Castro, who worked closely with Cristiano Ronaldo in Saudi Arabia, has insisted that the legendary forward should not be made the scapegoat for Portugal's exit from the World Cup. Following the 1-0 round of 16 loss to Spain, Castro argued that the focus should remain on the collective failure of the team rather than scrutinising the individual performance of the captain.

Speaking to the Saudi newspaper Arriyadiyah, Castro stated: "I don't evaluate the players individually, the value of a team lies in the group as a whole. It was Portugal that lost, not a specific player." This defence comes at a time when the 41-year-old was facing intense scrutiny, with critics questioning whether his presence hindered the side coached by Roberto Martinez.

Despite defending Ronaldo, Castro did point to a specific individual error that proved decisive for Spain's stoppage-time winner. He highlighted a lapse in concentration by Ruben Dias, which allowed Mikel Merino to score. "One of Portugal's central defenders left his position, which opened space for a Spanish player who, unmarked, infiltrated the defensive line and scored the winning goal," Castro explained.

Statistically, Ronaldo's tournament was challenging. While he scored three times, his physical decline was evident in open play, as he became the only striker to play over 500 minutes across the last two World Cups without successfully dribbling past an opponent. Ronaldo himself remained defiant, confirming this was his final World Cup and stating he gave his all for the team.

Looking ahead, the current Gremio manager conceded that Portugal are currently a step below the international elite. Castro noted that Argentina, England, and France remain the strongest nations, and predicted that the 2026 World Cup title would most likely be lifted by either France or Argentina.