Portugal respond to mounting criticism around captain Cristiano Ronaldo as they prepare to move beyond their early 2026 FIFA World Cup performance. Multiple reports say Portugal are effectively “tuning out” the backlash, framing it as noise rather than a substantive issue. Following a disappointing start, Portugal’s players, led by Ruben Dias, address questions about Ronaldo after the team’s underwhelming draw in their World Cup opener against the Democratic Republic of Congo. Dias is reported to refuse calls to single out Ronaldo, instead emphasizing that criticism is not the focus for the squad at this stage. The outlets also describe Ronaldo as being under particular scrutiny after the draw, but present Portugal’s official and player responses as aimed at reducing the impact of external commentary. Overall, the reporting aligns on the central themes: Portugal’s attempt to downplay public backlash, Dias’s decision not to single out Ronaldo, and the context of the World Cup opener result against the Democratic Republic of Congo.