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Portugal dropped points against DR Congo in June's international window, and now a former Arsenal player — unnamed in the original report — has reportedly called out Cristiano Ronaldo for selfish play during the match. **Editor's note: this claim comes from a single outlet (Pulse Sports Kenya), the critic has not been named, and no European sports media has corroborated it at time of publication. We're covering it transparently — treat it as unconfirmed.** The criticism, if real, lands in familiar territory: the recurring, never-quite-settled debate over whether Ronaldo's presence at 40 still serves Portugal or simply orbits it.
According to Pulse Sports Kenya, an Arsenal legend has publicly criticised Ronaldo for selfish play during Portugal's draw with DR Congo in the current international window. The result itself carries real weight — dropped points in 2026 World Cup qualifying tighten the margins for Roberto Martínez's side, and a draw against DR Congo is not the kind of result Portugal can afford to shrug off.
The problem with this story, for now, is the gap at its centre: the critic is unnamed. Pulse Sports Kenya is the sole outlet carrying the claim, and there has been no corroboration from European sports media at the time of writing. That doesn't make the criticism fictional — it makes it unverifiable. Flagside is treating it as an unconfirmed report until a named source or a second outlet picks it up.
What the report does do — named source or not — is reopen the question that follows Ronaldo into every international camp. Portugal have genuine quality across the pitch: Bruno Fernandes pulling strings in midfield, Bernardo Silva drifting into dangerous pockets, Rafael Leão capable of tearing defences apart on his day. The argument from critics has long been that a Ronaldo-centric system asks those players to work around one man's positioning rather than express themselves freely.
A draw with DR Congo is exactly the kind of result that makes that argument louder. Portugal should be winning those games. When they don't, the post-match conversation almost always arrives at the same door.
If a named former Arsenal player is identified as the source of this criticism, the story has real legs — a respected ex-professional on record about Ronaldo's impact on a World Cup qualifying campaign is a legitimate talking point. Until then, this sits in the unconfirmed column.
Martínez has consistently backed Ronaldo's involvement, and Ronaldo himself has shown no indication he intends to step back from international football. The 2026 World Cup in North America would be his sixth — a record that, like most things involving Ronaldo, he appears entirely serious about chasing.
Portugal can still qualify comfortably. But they need wins, not draws. And right now, someone from the Arsenal dressing rooms of the past apparently has something to say about why they're not getting them.
Portugal dropped points against DR Congo in June's international window, and now a former Arsenal player — unnamed in the original report — has reportedly called out Cristiano Ronaldo for selfish play during the match.
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“Stays on World Cup — different angle, same beat.”
INTHaikupaswa kuwa hivyo. Portugal — moja ya timu zinazotarajiwa kushinda Kombe la Dunia 2026 — walianza safari yao kwa sare ya 1-1 dhidi ya DR Congo, matokeo ambayo yanaweza kubadilisha hesabu nzima ya
“Stays on World Cup — different angle, same beat.”
INTHaikupaswa kuwa hivyo. Portugal — moja ya timu zinazotarajiwa kushinda Kombe la Dunia 2026 — walianza safari yao kwa sare ya 1-1 dhidi ya DR Congo, matokeo ambayo yanaweza kubadilisha hesabu nzima ya
