Portugal star provides honest response when asked if he tries to pass the ball to Cristiano Ronaldo at every given opportunity

× Portugal winger Francisco Conceicao has claimed that he isn't obligated to pass to Cristiano Ronaldo all the time. Instead, the 23-year-old stated that he would prioritize his passes based on whichever teammate was in the best possible position to make an impact. Ad Cristiano Ronaldo-led Portugal have been heavily criticized recently, following their disappointing 1-1 draw against DR Congo in their 2026 FIFA World Cup opener on June 17.

In addition, several A Selecao stars have been blasted by fans on social media for not passing enough to Ronaldo in the final third. During a press conference before team training, Conceicao was asked if he ever feels a constant temptation to pass to Ronaldo, even if it may not be the best option at the time. The Juventus star firmly responded (via The Nassr Zone): Ad Trending "No.

I think Cristiano, because of his extraordinary ability to score goals, is unmatched in that regard. But we do not feel any obligation or need to pass the ball to him all the time. Speaking for myself, at least, I pass the ball to the player whom I believe is in the best position at that moment or has the best opportunity."

Ad He added: "I don’t have time to think: who is the teammate next to me? Whose face am I looking at? No.

Everything happens instinctively, in fractions of a second, and there is no time for those kinds of calculations. And, of course, Cristiano is here to help the national team, just like any other player in the national squad." Ad Al Nassr Zone @TheNassrZoneThere has been a lot of discussion about Cristiano Ronaldo and the influence the national team captain has on this group.

My question is: since Francisco Conceicao is considered one of the players most capable of making a difference, or, as the coach calls you, one of the Ad Cristiano Ronaldo notably struggled to make an impact against DR Congo during his 90 minutes on the pitch, as he created zero chances and landed zero shots on target from an attempted three. The 41-year-old has now failed to find the back of the net in his last five World Cup games and his last four international appearances for Portugal. "Trains with enthusiasm as if it were the last training session of his life" - Portugal star explains why Cristiano Ronaldo is a role model From the aforementioned press conference, Francisco Conceicao delved into what makes Cristiano Ronaldo a role model for his generation.

His response arrived when he was asked what Ronaldo means to him personally. Ad Conceicao waxed lyrical about Cristiano Ronaldo's leadership, goals, and desire and preparation for each game, praising the Portugal ace for his hunger in training on a daily basis. He stated (via The Nassr Zone): "Cristiano is a role model because of the career he has built and because of the hunger and desire he shows every single day.

Now, at 41 years old, he still shows that same desire to win every day, and he trains with enthusiasm as if it were the last training session of his life." Ad "I think that, for me, for the new generation, and for everyone here, he is a tremendous example. Because if he has achieved all of this and still has that level of desire, then the hunger we must have to achieve even a small part of what he has accomplished should be even greater."

Ad He concluded: "He is an example because of that, because of his leadership, and because of the goals he scores. And in the end, he is just another player in the team, here to help us. I believe we need every individual quality available so that the team as a whole can function in the best possible way."

Ad Al Nassr Zone @TheNassrZoneI won’t get your date of birth wrong, it’s December 14, 2002, right? Well, on August 14, 2002, Cristiano Ronaldo made his debut for Sporting Lisbon. In other words, his career began at almost the same time you were born.

I’d like you to talk a little about that, especially givenCristiano Ronaldo's Portugal will next face Uzbekistan in the FIFA World Cup on June 23. They are currently third in Group K with one point and will aim to secure all three points to avoid an early upset in the tournament. × Was this article helpful?

Thank You for feedback Quick Links More from Sportskeeda Edited by Silas Sud Portugal winger Francisco Conceicao has claimed that he isn't obligated to pass to Cristiano Ronaldo all the time. Instead, the 23-year-old stated that he would prioritize his passes based on whichever teammate was in the best possible position to make an impact. Ad Cristiano Ronaldo-led Portugal have been heavily criticized recently, following their disappointing 1-1 draw against DR Congo in their 2026 FIFA World Cup opener on June 17.

In addition, several A Selecao stars have been blasted by fans on social media for not passing enough to Ronaldo in the final third. During a press conference before team training, Conceicao was asked if he ever feels a constant temptation to pass to Ronaldo, even if it may not be the best option at the time. The Juventus star firmly respon