Cristiano Ronaldo’s legendary ex-Portugal teammate Deco has explained why they did not win the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Deco, a former teammate of Cristiano Ronaldo, feels that his country failed to win the 2022 FIFA World Cup owing to a lack of a star like Lionel Messi.
The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner was instrumental in his country’s World Cup victory in Qatar last year, scoring seven goals and providing three assists in seven games.
Meanwhile, his arch-rival and Al-Nassr striker, Ronaldo, had failed to have the same impact on his team’s performances as the Barcelona legend.
In five games, the 38-year-old forward scored one goal. Deco remarked (via AlbicelesteTalk): “Seemingly admitting that the former Barcelona man’s influence was greater than Ronaldo’s, having shared the pitch 57 times with the latter.”
“Argentina won the World Cup because they have Messi. For us, Portugal had the best generation of good players, but we don’t have Messi.”
The Portuguese World Cup squad included some of Europe’s top players, including Premier League stars Bernardo Silva, Bruno Fernandes, and Ruben Dias, as well as Joao Felix and Joao Cancelo.
Despite a quality squad, Morocco knocked the European nation out in the quarter-finals. In the 42nd minute, Youssef En-Nesyri scored the game’s sole goal.
Meanwhile, Messi scored twice in Argentina’s dramatic final against France, which Argentina won on penalties after a tense 3-3 draw. He was also presented with the Golden Ball.
