Ronaldo silent as João Neves faces cyberbullying wave

João Neves has been heavily insulted on social media since June 19, 2026, the day after Portugal’s 1-1 draw with the Democratic Republic of Congo in their opening match of the 2026 World Cup. The reason: comments made by the Paris Saint-Germain midfielder about Cristiano Ronaldo, which ignited fury among the most devoted supporters of “CR7”.

When asked after the match, Neves had nuanced his captain’s status within the squad: “We know what Cristiano has done for us, but right now, he’s like us. He’s just another player here to help us. He’s like everyone else.” Words perceived as an affront by some fans of the Al-Nassr striker, who have since flooded the 19-year-old’s accounts with threats and insults.

What is as shocking as the harassment itself is Ronaldo’s silence. Despite being accustomed to expressing himself regularly on social media, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner has, so far, published no message of support for his teammate. Several voices have been raised to condemn this absence. “Ronaldo should publicly support him,” wrote one X user. “He doesn’t hesitate to post for money all year after all.”

Other observers have pushed the comparison further. “Ronaldo should come out publicly and bang the table. And while he’s at it, ask the Aveiro family to avoid pouring fuel on the fire,” commented another user online, even evoking the specter of “Knysna” to describe the fracture threatening to open up in the Portuguese dressing room.

Journalist Nicolas Vilas Boas also defended Neves: “So João Neves is being threatened and insulted when he said good things about Ronaldo… There are really some sick people.” A reaction that sums up the general sentiment: the midfielder’s comments, far from being an attack, reflected a collective reading of the squad, not a personal challenge to his captain.

Portugal, which failed to win in their opening match, will have to manage this off-field tension as the competition is just beginning.