Portugal squad faces internal dispute after World Cup opener, families wade in

PARIS, France — Portugal’s national team is dealing with internal tensions at its World Cup camp after opening the 2026 tournament with a 1-1 draw against the Democratic Republic of Congo. Criticism on social media that captain Bruno Fernandes “disappeared” during key moments of the match drew broader attention after Ronaldo’s sister Katia Aveiro liked an Instagram post targeting the midfielder, while another sister, Elma Aveiro, claimed Portugal had been “robbed.” The dispute deepened after Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Joao Neves said Ronaldo was no longer treated as “an exceptional case” within the group, but rather as “another player helping the team.” Ronaldo’s partner, Georgina Rodriguez, then made a mocking comment on a post by Neves’s partner, Madalena Aragao, drawing a reply from an account purporting to be Aragao’s that referenced Ronaldo’s retirement. Rodriguez responded to that message. Al Nassr vice president Khaled Walid Al-Malek also defended Ronaldo online, saying the player had been abandoned by an ungrateful generation. The 41-year-old Ronaldo has now gone 10 consecutive matches at major tournaments without scoring. Portugal faces Uzbekistan on Tuesday, June 23, in its second group-stage game.