Messi didn’t perform against Spain in World Cup final – Costa defends Cristiano Ronaldo
Former FC Porto defender, Ricardo Costa, has defended Cristiano Ronaldo’s position in the Portugal national team. Costa insisted that Ronaldo should be recognized for competing at the highest level during the 2026 World Cup tournament. Speaking to Portuguese outlet, O Jogo, the former Portugal international noted that Ronaldo’s eternal rival Lionel Messi failed to perform […] Messi didn’t perform…
Former Porto defender Ricardo Costa has come to Cristiano Ronaldo's defense, praising the Portuguese forward for consistently competing at the highest level. Speaking to Portuguese newspaper O Jogo, Costa commented on the criticism Ronaldo has faced since his team's exit from the 2026 World Cup.
Costa acknowledged Messi's absence in the final against Spain, pointing out that the Argentine superstar failed to deliver in the crucial match. He argued that rather than focusing on Ronaldo's critics, attention should be given to the fact that both of the world's biggest stars missed their chances to win a World Cup final.
"Despite Messi not performing in the final against Spain, nobody speaks much about it," Costa said. "I believe we should recognize Cristiano Ronaldo's merit for continuing to compete at the highest level. The coach made the decisions he thought were best for the team, and if Portugal had reached the final, these choices wouldn't be so widely discussed."
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