Arsenal legend Thierry Henry has strongly criticized Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo following the team’s 1-1 draw against DR Congo in their 2026 World Cup opener. Speaking as a pundit on Fox News, Henry accused the five-time Ballon d’Or winner of prioritizing his own goalscoring ambitions over the collective success of the team.
Henry pointed to a specific second-half incident involving João Cancelo and Bruno Fernandes, where Ronaldo intercepted a promising attacking move and opted to shoot himself, only to fire wide. The Frenchman emphasized that the team’s primary objective should be to score as a unit, not for individual glory. “The team needs to score, not you need to score,” Henry asserted, urging fans to understand the importance of teamwork.
The former striker’s comments come after Portugal failed to secure a victory in their group stage match, with Ronaldo struggling to make an impact. Henry’s analysis highlights a growing concern about Ronaldo’s influence on the Portuguese squad, suggesting that his desire for personal milestones might be hindering the team’s overall performance.