Thierry Henry criticizes Cristiano Ronaldo's individualism vs DR Congo
Thierry Henry has questioned Cristiano Ronaldo's decision-making during Portugal's World Cup opener, citing a lack of team-first play.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0 / Author: Ludovic Péron
Cristiano Ronaldo faced significant scrutiny following Portugal's 1-1 draw against DR Congo in their World Cup opening fixture. The five-time Ballon d'Or winner was criticized for an individualistic performance that many felt hindered the team's attacking efficiency.
Working as a pundit, Thierry Henry highlighted a specific moment where Ronaldo's positioning blocked a clear scoring opportunity for teammate Bruno Fernandes. According to the former Arsenal and Barcelona forward, Ronaldo's choice to stay near the penalty spot instead of making a decoy run made the defenders' jobs much easier.
It is the team that must score, not you personally. Thierry Henry
Henry explained that by making a different movement, Ronaldo would have forced the defenders to protect the six-yard box, creating an open chance for Fernandes. Instead, Ronaldo cut across the path of the pass, leading to a frustrated reaction from Fernandes on the pitch.