Portugal World Cup drama slammed as ‘toxic’ amid Cristiano Ronaldo’s sister’s antics

Cristiano Ronaldo’s sister has been slammed for fuelling a ‘toxic’ atmosphere in Portugal’s World Cup camp.

Katia Aveiro publicly declared that her brother is not to be blamed for the national team’s struggles after a frustrating 1-1 draw against DR Congo created widespread debate over the five-time Ballon d’Or winner’s use to the team.

At 41 years old Ronaldo continues to lead the line for PortugalGetty

Bruno blame game

She publicly wrote on an Instagram post: “They magically forgot how to pass, how to win the ball, how to counter-attack. The game became all about passing backwards in midfield.

“This World Cup is strange. Strange. But let’s go, wrong starts, right finishes. Until the end.”

In a follow up video, she said: “As a supporter of my country, I was disappointed. We didn’t play well, nobody played well. We started the game well, but that was just the beginning.

“But as I’ve always heard, bad starts often lead to good ends, so let’s think positively. Only those who are there make mistakes. No player was good, it wasn’t the team we expected.”

She continued by liking a post which accused Ronaldo’s teammate Bruno Fernandes of ‘going missing’ in the fixture.

It read: “Bruno Fernandes looks like a different player when he wears the Portugal shirt. When Portugal need a leader the most, he often goes missing and leaves the responsibility to others.

“Plenty of talent, plenty of media attention, but where are the decisive performances in the biggest moments? Fans expect a star who steps up when the pressure is highest, not someone who disappears when the game gets tough.”

Ronaldo v Bruno

On talkSPORT Breakfast, Gabby Agbonlahor slammed Aveiro for her social media behaviour, saying: “I don’t like that. That’s toxic because Ronaldo wouldn’t want that either.

“Bruno Fernandes is a top player, I think Ronaldo struggled because he was playing central midfield himself, that’s the problem, he was playing too deep.”

Meanwhile, host Andy Goldstein called on Portugal boss Roberto Martinez to take drastic action with Ronaldo, saying: “I think the problem is Roberto Martinez, he’s got to show some balls and put him on the bench.

Things may be a bit awkward on the training pitch between Fernandes and RonaldoGetty

“He should be scoring hat tricks against Uzbekistan and one the issues is that Lionel Messi has already done that so the pressure is on.”

Agbonlahor added: “I think he will start Ronaldo, because he’ll look at that game and think that he can score maybe a couple and people can stop questioning Roberto Martinez.

“I think if it was any other game which was tougher, maybe not… but Uzbekistan isn’t the greatest side.”

Fans have wondered whether the Al Nassr forward’s influence on the international team has hindered a ‘golden generation’.

Martinez’s final headache

The ex-Premier League boss will step down from managing the Portugal squad after the World Cup, and it seems obvious the 41-year-old will play in his final international tournament.

In fact, talkSPORT’s Rory Jennings has even placed a £5,000 bet with Ronaldo fan Piers Morgan that the 41-year-old will not score a single goal in North America this summer.

Ronaldo barely touched the ball and missed one huge chance for his country against DR Congo

Jennings believes if the icon keeps starting games, it will ultimately cost Portugal World Cup glory.

Jennings said: “I think Portugal can win this World Cup but it won’t be because of the brilliance of Cristiano Ronaldo. He will hinder them.

“I think Ronaldo up front is a major hindrance. He is a spent force. He was a spent force in Qatar (2022 World Cup).

“When did he last score in a World Cup? When did he score in a competitive tournament for Portugal? You’re looking at ten games ago, something like that?

“Lionel Messi has scored nine World Cup goals since Ronaldo last scored at the World Cup. He’s not a natural finisher like he was. He was once arguably the best finisher to ever live. You could make a case.

“But he’s not now. Robbie Fowler is one of the most natural finishers but I don’t want him up front for England either.”

Jennings added: “If Cristiano Ronaldo was English, I’d have Danny Welbeck ahead of him. He doesn’t get in the England team.

“Dominic Calvert-Lewin is a better footballer today than Ronaldo.

“I don’t think Ronaldo should be in any team.”