World Cup: 'We have no obligation to pass to him,' says 23-year-old winger refuting claims Portugal only plays for Ronaldo

Portugal's World Cup campaign has been met with scrutiny after a 1-1 draw against the Democratic Republic of Congo in their opening group stage match. Star player Cristiano Ronaldo, 41, bore the brunt of criticism for his performance, with some labeling him selfish.

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We have no obligation to pass to him.

However, 23-year-old winger Francisco Conceição pushed back against the notion that teammates are obligated to pass to Ronaldo. "We have no obligation to pass to him," Conceição stated at a press conference. He explained that on-field decisions are made instinctively in a split second, with players passing to the teammate in the best position, not based on who they are.

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In terms of his goal-scoring ability, I don't think anyone can compare to him.

Conceição acknowledged Ronaldo's unparalleled goal-scoring ability but stressed that he is part of a team. "He is here to help the team, just like all the other players in the national team," Conceição said. He also praised Ronaldo's enduring motivation at his age, calling him a role model for the new generation of players. "For us new generation players, he is a role model," Conceição noted, adding that achieving even a fraction of his success requires strong ambition.

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He is here to help the team, just like all the other players in the national team.

Despite the pressure following the unexpected draw, Conceição asserted that the team is accustomed to it. "Pressure always exists, and when things don't go well, pressure and criticism naturally increase," he said. "We are used to it. What we need to do next is give our best response in the next match, show our strength, win the game, and continue moving towards our goal."

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For us new generation players, he is a role model.