Joao Cancelo insists Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar still command full respect at the World Cup, despite strong criticism and injury concerns. The Portugal full-back says both stars remain central figures for their national teams, as Ronaldo endures a rare barren spell and Neymar waits to feature for Brazil in the group stage.

Ronaldo faces Uzbekistan in Portugal’s second group game on Tuesday, after receiving heavy scrutiny for the 1-1 draw with DR Congo. The forward has now gone 10 straight World Cup and European Championship matches without scoring, the longest goalless run of Ronaldo’s international career at major tournaments, and that sequence has fuelled debate over Ronaldo’s role.

Neymar, meanwhile, has watched Brazil’s progress from the sidelines. Brazil beat Haiti 3-0 in their second Group C match and are close to securing a knockout place, yet Neymar is still recovering from a calf problem. Medical staff expect availability for Brazil’s final group game on Thursday, against Scotland in Miami, which would mark Neymar’s tournament debut.

The forward returned to the Brazil squad under Carlo Ancelotti after almost three years out of international contention. Neymar’s last appearance for Brazil came in 2023, when an anterior cruciate ligament injury halted participation. That long absence, followed by the current calf issue, has added further questions about Neymar’s impact at this World Cup.

Cancelo rejected the idea that either player needs to silence critics or justify a place. Telling reporters, Cancelo said: “I don’t think Neymar or Cristiano need to prove anything to anyone. Their talent and what they’ve achieved in football speak for themselves. All that talk is just for show. Both Cristiano and Neymar know who they are and what they represent for their countries.”

While Ronaldo and Neymar face doubts, other leading names have started the tournament strongly. Lionel Messi already has five goals across Argentina’s opening two matches, giving Messi the outright World Cup scoring record. Messi now has 18 tournament goals, placing Messi two ahead of Miroslav Klose, while Kylian Mbappe has scored four times in France’s first two fixtures.

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Erling Haaland has matched Mbappe’s tally, helping Norway secure a place in the knockout rounds. These figures highlight the contrast between Ronaldo’s current struggles and the form of Messi, Mbappe and Haaland. The comparison has sharpened scrutiny of Ronaldo’s influence, particularly with Portugal still seeking a first win in this campaign.

Some observers argue Ronaldo’s presence may now hinder Portugal more than it helps, yet Cancelo strongly disputes any negative effect within the squad. “We’re more united, we’re stronger. We’re playing a World Cup, of course there’s a lot of noise, a lot of tension, it’s part of the game,” he said. “Our focus is on the team. We’re more united than before we arrived. There’s no tension. He’s an example, as a captain. And he’s reacted as a captain, with a lot of experience. He wants to contribute, and he’s a role model for our team. He opens up spaces with his movements. The numbers support him. He’s probably the biggest example of how to recover, how to train. But that doesn’t take away the feeling of frustration we all have, as a team.”

Opta data underlines Messi’s goalscoring dominance for Argentina at this tournament. A viral post noted how Argentina’s recent scoring has been concentrated among a small group of forwards, led by Messi.

As Portugal prepare for Uzbekistan and Brazil plan for Scotland, both Ronaldo and Neymar remain central to their teams’ ambitions. The statistics show challenges for Ronaldo and fitness issues for Neymar, yet squad voices such as Cancelo stress unity, collective frustration and continued belief in two of the World Cup’s most experienced stars.