Rade Bogdanović (foto: Uradni Twitter profil kluba/zveze)
Serbian pundit Rade Bogdanović launched a fierce attack on Cristiano Ronaldo, claiming the Portugal captain should not be playing at the World Cup.
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One of Serbia's most outspoken football analysts has sparked controversy at the start of the 2026 World Cup after launching a remarkable attack on Cristiano Ronaldo.
Former footballer Rade Bogdanović, now a prominent television pundit, questioned whether the Portugal captain should even be participating in the tournament.
Speaking on Serbian national broadcaster RTS, Bogdanović delivered a blunt assessment of the veteran forward.
"I think it's a disgrace for football that Cristiano Ronaldo is even playing at the World Cup. The man can barely walk."
'He's there because of his name'
Bogdanović suggested Ronaldo's place in the squad was influenced more by his reputation than by his current level.
"Sponsors and the federation pushed him forward because of his name. He's not ready for this level. I would be ashamed."
The former striker went on to argue that Ronaldo should already have stepped aside from international football.
"He looks like a player who has come from a veterans' league. Every footballer needs to know when it's the right time to arrive and when it's the right time to leave."
He also claimed that Portugal's all-time leading scorer is preventing younger players from receiving opportunities.
"With all respect for his career, he's taking the place of a 20-year-old who should be getting a chance and representing the future of Portuguese football."
Martinez also targeted
Bogdanović's criticism was not limited to Ronaldo.
He also questioned the authority of Portugal coach Roberto Martínez.
"When I see that Martínez has no authority in the national team, I almost want Portugal to be eliminated in the group stage."
The comments quickly generated debate across social media and football circles, particularly given Ronaldo's status as one of the most decorated players in football history.
Comparison with Messi
As often happens in discussions involving Ronaldo, the conversation eventually turned to Lionel Messi.
Bogdanović described the Argentine captain in glowing terms.
"Messi is an alien, perfection, a deity. But every perfection eventually comes to an end."
He also suggested that FIFA had not been entirely neutral during Argentina's successful World Cup campaign in 2022, another claim likely to generate further controversy.