“The team doesn’t depend entirely on him” – Joao Cancelo on Cristiano Ronaldo’s importance in the current Portugal squad

Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal colleague Joao Cancelo revealed that the national team never really relied totally on CR7 all this time. The former Manchester City defender talked to a Portugal-based media network RTP prior to his outing with the national team for the upcoming international break.

Cancelo on Cristiano Ronaldo’s importance

“He is an important player for us, but the national team does not depend entirely on him,”  Cancelo said.

Joao Cancelo and Cristiano Ronaldo are both out

Cancelo, who is now playing for Barcelona has played 50 games for the national team. Meanwhile Ronaldo has featured in 205 games scoring 128 goals. Both players initially earned the latest call-up by manager Roberto Martinez ahead of the friendly against Sweden this Friday. 

But it is reported that Cancelo and Ronaldo were both left out from the squad. Martinez previously called 34 players for the training cup but he then reduced it to 24. Other players that have been dropped from the national team include Diogo Dalot, Danilo Pereira, Otavio, Rúben Neves, Vitinha and João Félix

Ronaldo will most likely play in the Euro 2024, making him the oldest player to ever play in the competition. If the former Manchester United winger appears in at least in one match, that would be his sixth edition of the Euro. 

Joao Cancelo believes Cristiano Ronaldo has passed his peak

Joao Cancelo also mentioned former Barcelona star Lionel Messi in his discussion about Ronaldo. He said that the Argentinian was a worthy opponent for Ronaldo for more than a decade.   

“(Ronaldo) is an important player and spent 15 years competing with [Lionel] Messi for the Ballon d’Or, but the peak of a footballer’s career is between the ages of 25 and 32,” Cancelo added. 

Apart from the national team, both Cancelo and Ronaldo also have spent time together in Juventus, winning the Scudetto and Supercoppa Italiana.

Ronaldo has been currently reported to spend time at the gym with partner Georgina Rodriguez. The Al Nassr star is known for his hard work on and off the pitch. His presence at the fitness centre just showed how determined he is in preparing himself for another Portugal call-up in the future.