Joao Felix Defends Cristiano Ronaldo After Portugal’s 5-0 Win Over Uzbekistan

Joao Felix has publicly defended Cristiano Ronaldo after the Portugal captain faced heavy criticism following his side’s 1-1 World Cup opener against DR Congo — comments that came after Ronaldo responded with a two-goal performance in Portugal’s 5-0 win over Uzbekistan on 23 June 2026. Felix told DAZN that the criticism was unfair and stressed Ronaldo’s continued potency inside the penalty area.

Felix’s defence: 'He is the best player inside the box'

Asked about the backlash aimed at Ronaldo after the opener, Felix said: “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.”

What changed between the opener and Uzbekistan

Portugal’s opening game against DR Congo ended 1-1 amid criticism that the team failed to create meaningful chances for their veteran striker. The source reports Portugal dominated possession (75%) but managed only seven shots, with a single shot on target — a Joao Neves header — while DR Congo had eight shots. In contrast, Portugal produced a far more convincing attacking display against Uzbekistan, registering 17 total shots with nine on target and a 5-0 final scoreline in which Ronaldo scored twice.

Tactical tweak and personnel changes

Roberto Martinez made a notable selection change after the DR Congo game, leaving Bernardo Silva out of the starting XI and moving Joao Felix onto the left. Felix said the adjustment allowed him to replicate the club-level understanding he has with Ronaldo, and that partnership helped create the chances Ronaldo needed to score twice against Uzbekistan.

Felix explained the simple formula: “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.”

Club chemistry: Al Nassr connection translating to Portugal

Felix highlighted that his understanding with Ronaldo has been honed at club level with Al Nassr. The source notes Felix was a key creative figure in Al Nassr’s recent season, producing 19 assists across all competitions and supplying six assists directly to Ronaldo, a partnership Felix said has made on-field exchanges more intuitive at international level.

• Ronaldo was criticised after Portugal’s 1-1 World Cup opener with DR Congo despite Portugal having 75% possession in that match (seven total shots, one on target).
• Portugal beat Uzbekistan 5-0 on 23 June 2026; Ronaldo scored two goals and the team had 17 shots (nine on target).
• Roberto Martinez dropped Bernardo Silva for the Uzbekistan match and started Joao Felix on the left.
• Felix has a strong club relationship with Ronaldo at Al Nassr; he delivered 19 assists in the last season with six of those going to Ronaldo.

Why it matters

At 41, Ronaldo remains an unavoidable focal point for Portugal’s World Cup narrative. Public backing from a teammate who directly supplies him for club and country helps defuse criticism and underlines a clear tactical approach: create high-quality chances inside the box for Ronaldo to finish. How Portugal manage chance creation and selection in the group stage will be crucial to whether they progress deep into the tournament.

Felix’s comments also emphasise the manager’s selection decisions. Martinez’s move to start Felix in place of Bernardo Silva produced measurable attacking returns against Uzbekistan, a signal that Portugal may prioritise players who can deliver direct opportunities in the penalty area to get the best from Ronaldo.

What happens next

Portugal’s immediate fixtures and Martinez’s next selection choices will show whether the Uzbekistan game was a genuine tactical turning point or a response tailored to that opponent. For Ronaldo, the priority is straightforward and was summed up by Felix: provide him with chances inside the box and he will deliver.