Ronaldo’s hat-trick against Uzbekistan? Michael Owen criticizes the Portuguese star
The opening week of the World Cup was dominated by a full-fledged Portuguese telenovela. After an an incredible 1-1 draw against a resilient DR Congo sideCristiano Ronaldo found himself at the epicenter of a well-known media storm. There have been rumors of dressing room friction in the Portugal camp, while critics have aggressively questioned manager Roberto Martinez’s authority and tactical willingness to field his 41-year-old captain.
Ronaldo’s performance in Houston added a significant amount of fuel to the fire. The veteran forward cut a deeply frustrated figure, registering just 25 touches and failing to register a single shot on target. The performance extended an unwanted statistical barren patch and marked 10 consecutive matches at major international tournaments without a goal for his country. Long-time rival Lionel Messi lit up the night before a wonderful hat-trick for Argentina in the opening match against Algeria.
Yet, just as the knives are out, former Manchester United team-mate Michael Owen has stepped forward to staunchly defend the legendary striker. Owen dismissed the wave of criticism, calling out critics for misinterpreting Ronaldo’s natural development as a footballer.
“It didn’t help Cristiano Ronaldo that Lionel Messi scored a hat-trick the night before Portugal played, but I criticize him,” Owen told the Daily Mail.
“Portugal were not great in their 1-1 draw with DR Congo and a lot of the impact was around Ronaldo and him who were a problem for them.
“But hasn’t he always played like that to some extent? He’s never been a player, especially in recent years, who gets involved in the game. But he’ll be there in big moments. If he doesn’t score, it’s too easy to blame Ronaldo. At 41, he’ll be questioned.”
LOADING HATTRICKS?
Owen remains fully convinced that Ronaldo has an unrivaled ability to rewrite the script when he gets into the corner, tipping him to take advantage of Portugal’s next Group K fixture on June 23.
“But how many times has that happened and he shuts everyone up in the next game? If you’re picking Ronaldo, then you have to accept what he’s there for – and I wouldn’t be surprised if he responds with a hat-trick of his own against Uzbekistan,” added Owen.
Martnez’s tactical plan continues to deploy Ronaldo in a central focus flanked by Bernardo Silva and Pedro Neto. While domestic pundits suggest the system threatens Portugal’s fluidity, the shift in pressure to Tuesday’s Group K clash with Uzbekistan is palpable.
For Ronaldo, a date with tournament debutants represents the ultimate stage for what he has built his career on, turning overwhelming noise into quiet advocacy.
Football World Cup | FIFA World Cup Schedule | FIFA World Cup Points Table | football news
– The end
Issued by:
Akshay Ramesh
Published on:
22 Jun 2026 17:08 IST