World Cup: ‘He has no pace, can’t go past anyone’ – Liverpool legend about Ronaldo

Liverpool Legend Criticizes Ronaldo’s World Cup Performances

Cristiano Ronaldo’s early performances in the 2026 World Cup have drawn criticism from former Liverpool defender Alan Hansen. Portugal finished second in their group following a goalless draw against Colombia on June 27 in Miami.

At 41 years old, Ronaldo has faced challenges in this tournament. He struggled during Portugal’s first match, a frustrating 1-1 draw against DR Congo, where he failed to hit the target with two attempts and had 25 touches. However, he rebounded in the next game against Uzbekistan, scoring twice in a 5-0 victory. This performance made him the first player to score in six World Cups and the oldest player to net a brace in a single match.

In the match against Colombia, Ronaldo’s impact was limited. He recorded only two touches in the opponent’s penalty area, along with three shots on target. According to ESPN, he lost possession eight times and was caught offside on two occasions.

During a post-match analysis on ESPN Podcasts, Hansen commented on Ronaldo’s declining speed and increasing frequency of offside calls. “In this World Cup, he has been offside more times than I can remember,” Hansen noted. “He knows he needs to get a quick head start on the defenders because he doesn’t have the pace.”

Hansen observed that Ronaldo’s positioning has shifted, remarking, “He ends up in a wide area because he can’t go past anybody. The only place he has to be is in the penalty box, but even then, he’s pretty much invisible.”

Ronaldo and the Portuguese national team are preparing to face 2018 finalists Croatia in a crucial Round of 32 matchup on Thursday, July 2, in Toronto.

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