Former Manchester United star Louis Saha, now a billionaire, has told Cristiano Ronaldo some home truths he may not like after Portugal's disappointing start to the 2026 World Cup.
Ronaldo's Nightmare Start
Cristiano Ronaldo endured a nightmare start to his World Cup 2026 campaign as Portugal drew 1-1 with DR Congo on Wednesday. The 41-year-old failed to score, extending his goalless run in major tournaments to 10 consecutive games.
Former Arsenal striker Thierry Henry criticized Ronaldo, suggesting the Portugal icon prioritizes scoring over team success. Now, Louis Saha has echoed those sentiments.
Saha's Verdict
Speaking to Casinolyze, Saha, 47, said: "Cristiano Ronaldo needs to be saved from himself, because Cristiano is always going to be in competition with Haaland, Mbappe, and Messi."
The ex-France international added: "He wants to play every minute to break records, that's his mentality and we understand that. But I think he also understands that Portugal needs a high tempo. They want to press and have the energy level at the very top, that will involve making changes. Sometimes he has provided a solution for that."
Benching Ronaldo
Saha believes Ronaldo must accept being benched at times to give Portugal a better chance of winning. He said: "The focus on him is hard for the manager. Sometimes he will have to answer unnecessary questions and sometimes you will have to bench Cristiano to allow him to go all the way in this competition."
Saha's Billionaire Status
Since retiring from football, Saha has amassed a fortune of £4.3 billion through his sports company AxisStars, which he co-founded with marketing expert Kate Hamer. The company's website states: "Since hanging up his boots, Louis has moved into the world of business where he has used his experience to develop propositions to support athletes and other people in the public eye, in their careers."
Old Trafford Days
Saha and Ronaldo were teammates at Manchester United for four years before the Frenchman left for Everton in 2008. He later played for Tottenham, Sunderland, and Lazio before retiring in 2013.
World Cup Struggles
Ronaldo has scored just eight goals across six World Cup tournaments. His performance against DR Congo drew criticism, with many questioning his place in the starting lineup.
Even younger stars like Kylian Mbappe have struggled, as Saha noted: "Even a younger version like Kylian Mbappé found that the first half was really poor and he wasn't good physically. He was making wrong choices, but in the second half the talent was there. That's basically what Cristiano can do."
