Portugal players ‘forgot to pass’: Cristiano Ronaldo’s sister sparks storm with mysterious post

Cristiano Ronaldo and his sister Katia Aveiro (Image credit: Agencies) NEW DELHI: Portugal were expected to start their FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign with a convincing win, but things did not go according to plan. Following a disappointing 1-1 draw against DR Congo, several of Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal team-mates found themselves on the receiving end of intense abuse on social media, with some fans claiming the veteran forward was deliberately ignored during the match.Criticism gained momentum after Ronaldo’s sister Katia Aveiro appeared to question the Portuguese approach in a cryptic post on social media. “They’ve magically forgotten how to: pass the ball; win it back; counter-attack. The whole game has become about passing backwards in midfield… a strange World Cup. Very strange.”Portugal, one of the pre-tournament favourites, struggled to break down a DR Congo team ranked well below them in the FIFA rankings. Ronaldo, who at 41 became the oldest outfield player to start a World Cup match, endured a quiet night, managing just 25 touches despite playing the full 90 minutes.The result drew criticism from coach Roberto Martinez and several Portugal players, with some Ronaldo supporters accusing them of not involving their captain enough in attacking situations.Midfielders Bruno Fernandes, Vitinha, Joao Neves and winger Pedro Neto were among those whose social media accounts were flooded with hostile messages after the match. Neves, in particular, has come under fire after saying Ronaldo should be seen as “just another player” in the squad as Portugal chase World Cup glory.Portuguese media reports have even warned of a possible “civil war” in the dressing room if the abuse continues, while rejecting suggestions that Ronaldo was deliberately denied the ball by teammates.Even Ronaldo’s own performance came under scrutiny. After seeing the likes of Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland score in their opening World Cup games, the Portugal captain failed to get on the scoresheet.The likes of Vinícius Júnior, Christian Pulisic, Viktor Gyökeres and Harry Kane also found the net earlier in the tournament, making Ronaldo’s blank all the more noticeable.However, the 41-year-old achieved a historic milestone by joining Messi as the only players to feature in six FIFA World Cups. But a day after Messi scored a hat-trick, Ronaldo missed the chance to become the first player to score at six different World Cups, scoring in the 68th and 73rd minutes.Ronaldo did not speak to reporters after the match but later sent a message to X.“It wasn’t the start we wanted, but this is far from over,” he wrote. “Keep your head up and focus on the next game.”Portugal coach Roberto Martinez defended his captain when asked if he had considered substituting him.“It doesn’t make sense to get the world’s best goalscorer out there when you need goals,” Martínez said. “Cristiano’s experience in the box is important. The way he attracts defenders is important.DR Congo midfielder Ngal’ayel Mukau, who is 20 years younger than Ronaldo, admitted his side have a clear strategy against the Portuguese icon.“We know that Ronaldo is not the same as before,” said Mukau. “So we know he runs less, less effort. So yeah, it was on our defense to stop him and they did a great job.”Wednesday’s match was the 229th international appearance of Ronaldo’s career and extended his record for the most appearances by a male footballer. While he led Portugal to the European Championship in 2016, his best finish at the World Cup remains the 2006 tournament, when Portugal reached the semi-finals.