British broadcaster Piers Morgan has defended Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo following his side’s 1-1 draw against DR Congo in their opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, insisting Bruno Fernandes delivered the poorer performance.

Speaking on Sports Uncensored, Morgan said the Manchester United midfielder struggled to influence the game and failed to provide the quality service Ronaldo needed in attack.

“Have you watched the Portugal game? I thought the one who had the really bad game was Bruno Fernandes,” Morgan said.

“I think Declan Rice was [the Premier League Player of the Season]. I thought he [Fernandes] barely had a good kick in the game against DR Congo.”

Morgan argued that criticism directed at Ronaldo was unfair, noting that the Portugal captain now plays primarily as a centre-forward and depends on his teammates to create scoring opportunities.

“Ronaldo, playing as a No. 9 rather than a flying winger. He needs the service from the team, but he did not get the service,” he added.

Portugal settled for a 1-1 draw against DR Congo in their Group-stage opener, with attention turning to their next fixture as they seek a first victory at the tournament.