Joao Cancelo Claims Cristiano Ronaldo Is Way Past His Prime & Portugal NT Doesn’t Depend On Him Entirely

Sometimes, it hurts when people forget all your achievements in the blink of an eye. Well, it seems like the very same is happening with Cristiano Ronaldo. The Portuguese skipper has carried the burden of the national team on his back for over a decade. However, with growing age, it doesn’t take long to become a forgotten chapter in a rusty book lying still on a dimly lit bookshelf. Despite his endeavor to keep moving forward, Cristiano Ronaldo’s efforts might not be as valuable as they once were!

Portugal defender Joao Cancelo made a massive statement on Cristiano Ronaldo earlier this week. The Barcelona star, in an interview, talked about the national team’s dependence on their skipper, claiming the team isn’t reliant on the Al Nassr star. Cancelo stated, “He is an important player and spent 15 years competing with Messi for the Ballon d’Or, but the peak of a footballer’s career is between the ages of 25 and 32. He is an important player for us, but the national team does not depend entirely on him.”

Cancelo’s statement is a massive surprise, considering Cristiano Ronaldo has been the top scorer for his team this season. The player played a crucial role during the Euro Qualifiers, scoring ten goals to help his side finish undefeated, bagging their ticket to the tournament group stages. Even Erling Haaland, who has been on fire for the last couple of years, failed to do the same when it comes to his national team. Hence, downplaying Cristiano’s importance to the national team doesn’t seem like the wise thing to do!

Roberto Martinez drops Cristiano Ronaldo for international friendlies

Portugal’s head coach dropped a massive bomb on the fans ahead of his team’s upcoming clash against Sweden. In a surprising turn of events, Roberto Martinez has dropped Cristiano Ronaldo alongside Diogo Dalot, Joao Cancelo, Danilo Pereira, Otavio, Ruben Neves, Vitinha, and Joao Felix from the squad against Sweden. The decision comes as a massive statement, as fans expected the manager to field his best team to figure out his preferred players ahead of the upcoming Euros.

READ MORE: Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al Nassr in Turmoil as President and Board Members Seek Departure Amid Sporting Director’s Rejection – Reports

However, it seems like Martinez’s decision has nothing to do with the player’s form. Reports suggest that Cristiano Ronaldo, alongside his other teammates, has simply been rested from the squad, considering the number of fixtures ahead of the team. The Al Nassr skipper is enjoying a brief vacation with his family, with the Saudi Pro League currently on a break because of the international fixtures. Cristiano has been very busy with Al Nassr’s fixtures as of late, and thus, the decision will provide him with a much-needed break.

What are your thoughts on Joao Cancelo’s statement? Let us know in the comments below.

READ MORE: Cristiano Ronaldo Played Wherever He Wanted to Play at Juventus, Ex-Teammate Spills Secrets