Portugal football faces social media backlash after 1-1 draw with DR Congo

After Portugal's 1-1 draw with the Democratic Republic of Congo in the World Cup, several players – including João Neves, Bruno Fernandes, Vitinha and Pedro Neto – were targeted by online attacks from fans demanding more passes to captain Cristiano Ronaldo. The criticism spread across social platforms, with some posts falsely attributed to Neves' girlfriend; Ronaldo's wife Georgina Rodríguez responded humorously to the fake comment.

Ronaldo later posted a team photo with a caption urging unity, attempting to close the episode. Analysts noted that the match footage showed no evidence of an internal boycott or deliberate neglect of the captain, and the backlash was seen as a reaction to a single moment rather than a systematic issue within the squad.