Portugal drew 1-1 against Congo in the first match of Group K. In that match, Ronaldo played the full 90 minutes but did not have any shots on target. The performance of the 41-year-old striker became a topic of debate when some opinions suggested that his teammates were too focused on passing the ball to the captain of the Portuguese team.
Before the team's training session in Palm Beach (USA), Conceicao denied this assessment.
We had no obligation or need to pass the ball to him. I passed the ball to the player who was in a more favorable position at that time. Everything happened instinctively in a split second on the field," Conceicao said.
The 23-year-old striker emphasized that Ronaldo is still one of the most important players of the national team thanks to his scoring ability and professional fighting spirit.
No one can compare to Cristiano in terms of scoring goals. He is a role model of desire for victory and professionalism. At the age of 41, he still maintains the spirit as in his early days of playing," Conceicao added.
According to the Juventus player, Ronaldo plays a role similar to other members in the squad and always aims to help the Portuguese team achieve the best results.
Conceicao also showed respect for his senior when he assessed Ronaldo as one of the important leaders of the national team both on and off the field.
At the 2026 World Cup, Conceicao has just participated for the first time in the biggest football festival on the planet. He also continues the family tradition when his father, former legend Sergio Conceicao, played for the Portuguese national team at the 2002 World Cup.
After the draw against Congo, the Portuguese team will enter the confrontation with Uzbekistan in the second match of Group K. Portugal needs a victory to improve their position and increase their chances of winning a ticket to the knockout round.
