After the criticism from the first game, Portugal teammate Joao Felix backed Cristiano Ronaldo, stating that "he is the best player inside the box." Cristiano Ronaldo faced severe scrutiny after an underwhelming performance in Portugal‘s 2026 World Cup debut against DR Congo. However, after responding with a brace against Uzbekistan, teammate Joao Felix quickly came to the defense of the 41-year-old forward, stating, “He is the best player inside the box.” With rival stars like Kylian Mbappe, Erling Haaland, and Lionel Messi shining early in the tournament, Ronaldo was expected to dominate a DR Congo squad making just its second World Cup appearance in history. Instead, the match ended in a disappointing 1-1 draw where the legendary striker struggled to make an impact, a narrative he quickly erased with two goals in a 5-0 routing of Uzbekistan. Following the bounce-back victory, Felix was asked by DAZN about the heavy criticism Ronaldo endured after the opener: “With Cristiano, there is always noise. Whether he does well or badly, people are always looking for more from him. In the first match, what blame could he possibly have? If he doesn’t get any balls inside the penalty area… he is the best player inside the box.” Reflecting on their club partnership, Felix explained the simple formula required for the aging icon to shine on the world stage. “You have to give him chances to score. He had them today and he scored two. That’s what it is; we have to create chances inside the box, mostly because in the first game we didn’t create many, whereas in this one we did create a ton,” he concluded. Cristiano Ronaldo #7 of Portugal celebrates scoring In that frustrating opener against DR Congo, Portugal dominated 75% of the possession but completely failed to break down a compact, deep-lying defense. Out of the mere seven total shots the Selecao managed, only a Joao Neves header found the target, while a counter-attacking Congo side actually looked more menacing with eight total shots. Facing another five-man backline against Uzbekistan, the tactical challenge initially looked identical for the European powerhouses. However, after several key adjustments to the starting lineup, Portugal looked far more fluid, unleashing 17 total shots with nine hitting the target to overwhelm their opponents. Ronaldo and Felix: A partnership forged in Al Nassr Following the discouraging draw against DR Congo, head coach Roberto Martinez chose to drop Bernardo Silva from the starting XI, deploying Felix on the left wing. The tactical gamble paid off immensely, as Felix constantly exploited spaces and replicated the offensive chemistry he built with Ronaldo during the 2025-26 season in Saudi Arabia. After the final whistle, Felix opened up about his intuitive on-field relationship with the veteran captain: “We spent the whole year training this understanding. He knows my movements and I know his, so the chemistry becomes easy. When he has players around him, we can make quick exchanges. The focus is to stay close to each other so we can play our style.“ Felix proved to be a vital addition for Al Nassr during their recent Saudi Pro League title run, a move heavily pushed for by Ronaldo himself. Out of the 19 assists Felix delivered across all competitions this past club season, six went directly to Ronaldo, proving that their elite club connection translates perfectly to the international stage.
Amid rumors surrounding a potential move to Barcelona, Bernardo Silva would reportedly be willing to give up a considerable amount of money. On June 30 of this year, in the middle of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America, Bernardo Silva’s contract with Manchester City will expire, making him a free agent. That will give him the chance to negotiate freely with any club in the world, with Barcelona emerging as the leading favorites. “Aware that his salary in Catalonia will not be even remotely comparable to what he earned at City since his last contract renewal in 2023 (around €16 million per year), Bernardo Silva is willing to do practically anything to become a Barcelona player,” Portuguese outlet A Bola reported on Friday. Barcelona’s financial possibilities are limited compared to other options, which would force a sacrifice from the midfielder. “They have no money and have a more modest two-year contract with an option for a third, and a salary of around €8 million annually. This is practically half of what his lucrative contract with City offered him,” the report added. That means that, instead of the potential $18 million Silva could earn by staying at Manchester City, he would make around $9 million at Barcelona. “This difference could, of course, be mitigated by a generous signing bonus,” A Bola clarified. Hansi Flick, Head Coach of FC Barcelona. Other options for Bernardo Silva Although reports indicate that Bernardo Silva has a clear desire to play for Barcelona next season because of the sporting challenge it represents, there are other possible destinations if the move falls through. According to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, clubs from the Saudi Pro League have shown interest in the 31-year-old midfielder, in what would mean following the path of fellow Portugal national team players Cristiano Ronaldo, Joao Cancelo, Ruben Neves and Joao Felix. In that scenario, the financial power of Saudi clubs suggests they could present a more lucrative offer than Barcelona. On the other side of the map, Inter Miami have also emerged as an option, driven by the desire to surround Lionel Messi with top-level talent. However, their current priority appears to be Casemiro, given the need to strengthen the defensive midfield position following Sergio Busquets’ retirement. Barcelona looking to strengthen midfield If negotiations for Bernardo Silva are completed, Barcelona would add another intriguing option to Hansi Flick’s squad. Right now, the team already has several proven midfield talents, including Pedri, Gavi, Fermin Lopez and Dani Olmo, so it will be interesting to see how the coach arranges his pieces to incorporate a star like Bernardo into his tactical setup.
Amid a disappointing season, Antonio Rüdiger emerged as one of the undisputed leaders in Real Madrid’s defensive line. Following his consistent performances, the club have reportedly secured a contract renewal for the 33-year-old defender, reinforcing his role as a key figure. Even though Real Madrid have not enjoyed their best season, Antonio Rüdiger has emerged as one of the team’s most important players. Despite dealing with injuries at the start of the campaign, the German defender has managed to establish himself as an essential presence in the back line through his consistency and leadership. Following his strong performances, Los Blancos have reportedly reached an agreement to renew the 33-year-old’s contract. According to Fabrizio Romano, via X, formerly Twitter, Antonio Rüdiger and Real Madrid have reached an agreement over a contract renewal. As a result, the German defender would remain at the club until 2027, reinforcing his importance under José Mourinho due to his experience and consistency. After playing 2,190 minutes during the season, he appears set to once again play a key role in the defensive transition alongside Éder Militão and Dean Huijsen. With Éder Militão struggling through defensive inconsistencies and Dean Huijsen yet to fully establish, the continuity of Rüdiger appears to be a smart decision for Real Madrid. However, he is coming off a season heavily affected by injuries, meaning he could enter a more structured rotation. As a natural dressing-room leader, Antonio could also prove essential during the managerial transition, especially if major tactical changes are introduced. Antonio Rüdiger reportedly had opportunities to continue his career before reaching an agreement with Real Madrid. According to Nicolò Schira, Juventus pursued the German defender as a free agent due to him strong relationship with Luciano Spalletti. Alongside them, two Premier League clubs and one Saudi Pro League side were also said to be monitoring his situation. However, Real Madrid’s renewal proposal changed everything. Antonio Rudiger of Real Madrid reacts during the LaLiga EA Sports match. Real Madrid may still need to sign a world-class defender Real Madrid struggled significantly at the defensive level, with several of their defenders suffering major injuries. In addition, David Alaba has officially departed the club, while Raúl Asencio could leave either on loan or through a permanent transfer. With Éder Militão continuing to battle injury concerns and showing vulnerability to long absences, Los Blancos may need to sign a reliable center-back capable of providing quality depth throughout the season. While Aurélien Tchouaméni and Joan Martínez could provide additional cover at center-back, Real Madrid still appear determined to strengthen the defensive department. According to José Félix Díaz via Diario AS, José Mourinho has requested four reinforcements for the summer of 2026: one center-back, one full-back, and two midfielders — one defensive and one creative. Nevertheless, midfield additions could reportedly become the club’s immediate priority.
Cristiano Ronaldo wrote the 65th free-kick goal of his career against Damac FC in Al Nassr's win, but is still trailing Lionel Messi in the standings. Cristiano Ronaldo grabbed the headlines once again on Thursday, leading Al Nassr to the 2025-26 Saudi Pro League title with a decisive brace in a 4-1 victory over Damac FC. With his first goal of the evening, the Portuguese icon reached 65 career free-kick goals, though he still trails the historic record of his long-time rival, Lionel Messi. Al Nassr entered the match needing a win to prevent Al Hilal from snatching the league trophy out of their hands, and the home fans finally found relief once Ronaldo made his mark on the scoresheet. After Joao Felix was brought down on the flank, Ronaldo took charge of the set piece from a narrow angle, drilling a powerful 63rd-minute strike that skipped off the turf and eluded the entire defense to extend the lead to 3-1. The strike marked the 65th free-kick goal of Cristiano Ronaldo’s career and his sixth since joining Al Nassr. Even with the milestone, he remains a few tallies away from matching the benchmark established by Lionel Messi. The Argentine playmaker currently holds a record of 71 free-kick goals across club and international play. Messi has already added two free-kick goals to his tally for Inter Miami, scoring against cross-state rivals Orlando City and New York City FC, while Ronaldo’s strike against Damac on Thursday was his first of the year. "THE MOST FAMOUS NO. 7 OF THEM ALL!" 🗣️Cristiano Ronaldo free kick goal for Al Nassr! 🐐 pic.twitter.com/Q5I3GIsVc9— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) May 21, 2026 While the gap between the two icons stands at six, Cristiano Ronaldo continues to climb the ranks of soccer’s historic set-piece specialists. The Portuguese forward has now equaled the career record of England legend David Beckham (65) and sits just one behind Brazilian icon Ronaldinho (66), giving him plenty of room to further cement his legacy. Ronaldo snaps trophy and free-kick droughts As the final whistle blew on Thursday, television cameras caught an emotional Ronaldo breaking down in tears, celebrating the end of a frustrating trophy drought with Al Nassr. Beyond the SPL triumph, the spectacular free kick also brought a personal multi-year drought to a definitive end. The goal against Damac FC was Ronaldo’s first successful free kick since hitting the back of the net against Al Fayha back on August 27, 2024. Following that curling effort to the right side of the net, it took the forward exactly one year, eight months, and 23 days (or 632 days) to convert another set piece. Ronaldo had previously converted three free-kick goals over the course of 2024, but 2025 proved to be a difficult stretch for the forward from a dead-ball perspective. He went empty-handed on 21 free-kick attempts over the calendar year, extending that slide through six additional blocked, deflected, or missed efforts before finally regaining his clinical form on Thursday.
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