You need to provide to Ronaldo like you have to do for Messi

Frank Leboeuf, France’s 1998 FIFA World Cup-winning centre-back, has said that just like Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo also needs service up front to be successful.

Messi, 38, dazzled in his 2026 FIFA World Cup opener, scoring all three goals as holders Argentina thumped Algeria 3-0 on Tuesday (June 17). A day later, it was Ronaldo’s chance to shine as Portugal took on DR Congo.

However, the 41-year-old star endured a frustrating evening, managing two shots off target and a measly 25 touches – the fewest by any Selecao player who played at least 45 minutes – in a 1-1 draw with DR Congo.

LeBoeuf, though, leapt to the defence of Ronaldo, saying on ESPN Podcasts that both Messi and the Portugal captain need help from their teammates to be successful:

“It’s a team sport. If you don’t provide what you need to provide to Ronaldo like you have to do for Messi … He won’t have many opportunities (to score).”

Both Messi and Ronaldo are participating in their sixth – and what’s likely – their final FIFA World Cup. While the Argentine marked the occasion with his first competition hat-trick, becoming the oldest to do so, and moving level with all-time top scorer Miroslav Klose (16), Ronaldo had a forgettable outing.

What’s next for Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi at the 2026 FIFA World Cup?

Both Lionel Messi’s Argentina and Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal are among the top favourites at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, but only the Albiceleste played like one in their campaign opener.

Starting off a title-defence campaign with a win for the first time (after losses in 1982 and 1990), Messi and Co. next take on Austria in their next Group J game on Monday (June 22) at Dallas Stadium, Arlington. Another win for the Albiceleste will all but confirm their place in the knockouts.

Meanwhile, Ronaldo’‘s Portugal will look to have their FIFA World Cup campaign up and running when they clash with competition debutants Uzbekistan – who lost 3-1 to Colombia in their opener – on Tuesday (June 23) in Houston.

While the World Cup is conspicuous by its absence in Ronaldo’s glittering trophy cabinet, Messi is looking to join an exclusive group of players to win successive titles, having played a key role in the Albiceleste’s triumph in Qatar four years ago.