Hit by a wave of criticism, Portuguese athlete Francisco Conceição had his social networks invaded by Cristiano Ronaldo fans. The protest came after the striker expressed disagreement with the idea that teammates would be forced to pass the ball only to the star, exposing the intense passion and, at times, hostility of the digital public in high-performance football. Since the incident, the player has been the target of numerous aggressive messages on his official Instagram account.
Conceição’s controversial comment was made during a press conference last Sunday, the 21st, before a clash with the Uzbekistan team. Among the users’ posts, phrases such as “without CR7 they are nobody” stand out, and one fan compared the situation to the relationship between the Argentina team and Lionel Messi. Digital platforms were abuzz with these and other messages, demonstrating the strength of admiration and, occasionally, the aggressiveness of fans in digital media.
The origin of the discussion about mandatory passes in the Portuguese team
At the press conference on Sunday, 21st, Francisco Conceição was asked about how the dynamics on the field worked with the presence of Cristiano Ronaldo. The player expressed his respect for the captain, but made a point of making it clear that he felt no obligation to always direct the ball to him.
The young athlete explained his point of view, declaring: “No other player has the same finishing ability as Cristiano Ronaldo, however, there is no imposition or obligation that the ball is always handed to him. My plays are directed to the teammate who is in a more advantageous position, with no room to hesitate about who to pass to. Choices on the pitch are made by instinct, in milliseconds. Cristiano is part of the team to add value, like any other player called up.”