João Cancelo, defender for the Portugal national team, has come to the defense of both Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar, stating they do not deserve the criticism they have faced during the ongoing World Cup.
Ronaldo, 41, faced backlash following a disappointing performance in Portugal’s opening match, which ended in a 1-1 draw against Congo DR. Meanwhile, Neymar, 34, has been sidelined for Brazil’s first two matches due to a calf injury, prompting some to question his inclusion in the squad.
“I believe neither Neymar nor Cristiano has anything to prove,” Cancelo stated to the press.
“Their skills and achievements in football speak volumes. All this criticism is merely noise. Both Cristiano and Neymar are well aware of their value and what they symbolize for their nations.”
Ronaldo has joined Argentina captain Lionel Messi as only the second player to participate in six World Cups. The Portuguese captain holds the record as the leading scorer in men’s international football with 143 goals since debuting for his national team in 2003.
Neymar is Brazil’s all-time leading scorer, with 79 goals in 128 matches, although he has not played for his country since suffering an ACL injury in October 2023 while on international duty.
Jack Hendry has expressed confidence in facing Neymar should the Brazilian return for the World Cup match against Scotland on Wednesday.
The 34-year-old forward missed his team’s first two Group C matches due to injury, but head coach Carlo Ancelotti has cleared him to play against the Scots in Miami.
During the 2021-22 season with Club Brugge, Hendry faced Neymar when he was part of a Paris Saint-Germain attack that included Messi and Kylian Mbappé.
After moving to Al-Ettifaq in 2023, Hendry found Neymar at Al-Hilal, although the Brazilian has since signed with Santos in Brazil.
During a training session in Charlotte, North Carolina, Hendry reflected on the chance to compete against Neymar once more.
The former Dundee and Celtic defender remarked, “I’m ready for it. He was playing in the same league I was [in Saudi Arabia].”
“I am quite comfortable facing Neymar and I’m looking forward to it; it promises to be a good contest. Unfortunately, he got hurt in Saudi Arabia while playing and missed more matches.”
“We played against each other in the Champions League when he was with PSG, which was a great challenge. At that time, their attack featured Messi, Mbappé, and Neymar. What an impressive front line, offering fantastic experience.”
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“In the first match, I think we performed decently. The score could’ve been 0-0 or 1-1, I can’t quite recall, but that was among the initial games they played together. It’s vital to remain focused while playing against such players because a momentary lapse could lead to conceding goals; every experience against elite players is valuable.”
“So, I am looking forward to it and will see if he takes the field.”
Report contributed by Press Association.