New Delhi: Cristiano Ronaldo has now gone 10 consecutive matches without scoring in major international competitions. It is an unwanted streak that continues to shadow the veteran forward, despite his immense experience and legendary status on the global stage.

The pressure is boiling as he aim to get back on track after being held to a shock 1-1 draw by DR Congo in their match earlier this week at the Houston Stadium. Ronaldo faced heavy criticism after the match, having managed just 25 touches despite playing the full 90 minutes.

According to a report by Portuguese news outlet A Bola, the captain reached his breaking point during a quick hydration break. Ronaldo turned directly toward the media area, gesturing aggressively with his hands and arms for the journalists to pack up and leave. His message was clear: the time allocated for open media coverage had officially expired, and he wanted them gone.

🤨CRISTIANO RONALDO haciéndole gestos a los periodistas

Lamentablemente gagá pic.twitter.com/2wMHQLBGw6

— Posta (@posta_sports) June 19, 2026

The dramatic moment perfectly mirrors the intense scrutiny surrounding the 41-year-old forward. Following the draw with DR Congo, A Bola ran a front page with the headline “Capitão debaixo de fogo” (Captain under fire), highlighting how much pressure the iconic number 7 is under.

However, the rest of the Portuguese camp is doing its best to block out the media circus. Speaking about the external chatter, star defender Rúben Dias insisted that the team remains entirely unaffected and focused on their upcoming group games.

“It’s not an issue for us,” Dias said, as quoted by *OneFootball*. “It’s insignificant, just a bit of fuss and noise. It’s all part of the game.”

Dias made it clear that the squad stands together rather than scapegoating their captain for the opening match disappointment.

“First and foremost, the criticism isn’t directed at just one player. Cristiano is a major focus of attention, but I think we’re all in the firing line,” Dias added.

“Above all, apart from what I’ve just said, I don’t think anything out of the ordinary is happening. It’s always been like this since I’ve been here. I believe it will continue to be so in the future. In the end, it’s noise. We isolate ourselves from it and focus on doing our thing.”

With their next match coming up on Tuesday, Portugal will look to rediscover their form and push for the top spot in the Group K rankings.