João Cancelo Defends Ronaldo and Neymar at World Cup

João Cancelo has stepped firmly into the line of fire to defend two of modern football’s biggest lightning rods. For the Portugal full-back, the noise around Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar at this World Cup says more about the critics than the players.

Ronaldo, now 41, has been hammered for a subdued display in Portugal’s opening 1-1 draw with Congo DR. Neymar, 34, has not played a minute for Brazil in their first two matches, his calf injury sparking a fierce debate over whether he should have been taken to the tournament at all.

Cancelo is having none of it.

“I don't think Neymar or Cristiano need to prove anything to anyone,” he told reporters, cutting straight through the theatre that surrounds both men. Their careers, he argued, have already settled any argument that matters.

Their numbers back him up. Ronaldo has joined Argentina captain Lionel Messi in an exclusive club as only the second player to appear at six World Cups. Across more than two decades with Portugal since his 2003 debut, he has amassed 143 international goals – the most by any man in history.

Neymar’s record is just as stark in Brazilian colours. With 79 goals in 128 appearances, he stands alone as Brazil’s all-time leading scorer. His absence since tearing his ACL on international duty in October 2023 has only sharpened the sense of what Brazil lose when he is not on the pitch.

Cancelo’s message was clear: the legacy is written. The rest is theatre.

“Their talent and what they've achieved in football speak for themselves,” he said. “All that talk is just for show. Both Cristiano and Neymar know who they are and what they represent for their countries.”

While the debate rages around them, others are simply preparing to face the reality of Neymar on the pitch again.

Hendry ready for Neymar duel

At Scotland’s training base in Charlotte, North Carolina, Jack Hendry cut a relaxed figure as he contemplated the prospect of seeing Neymar line up opposite him in Wednesday’s World Cup clash with Brazil in Miami.

Carlo Ancelotti has confirmed the forward is fit after missing Brazil’s first two Group C matches with that calf problem. If he plays, Hendry will not be overawed. He has been here before.

“Yeah, no problem,” the 31-year-old defender said calmly when asked about the possibility of marking Neymar again.

Hendry’s path has already crossed with the Brazilian star at the highest level. As a Club Brugge player in the 2021-22 season, he faced Neymar in the Champions League when the Brazilian formed part of a Paris Saint-Germain front line alongside Messi and Kylian Mbappé. It was as glamorous – and unforgiving – an attacking trio as European football could offer.

“Obviously the front three at that time were Messi, Mbappé and Neymar. It's a not bad front three so it was a good experience,” Hendry recalled, with a hint of understatement.

He remembers that night clearly: a tight game, a hard examination, and a reminder that against players of that calibre, one lapse can ruin an otherwise flawless performance.

“I think the first game, we did well. I think maybe 0-0 or 1-1, I can't remember, but I think that was one of the first games they played together,” he said. “So you need to be concentrated, playing against these kind of players, because one split second you switch off, they can punish you, so it was a good experience.”

Their careers intersected again in Saudi Arabia. Hendry moved to Al-Ettifaq in 2023, and Neymar arrived in the same league when he signed for Al-Hilal. An ACL injury cut short any chance of a sustained rivalry there.

“I think he got injured out in Saudi, he did his ACL, which was unfortunate, obviously I would have played against him more,” Hendry said.

Neymar has since returned to Brazil with Santos, but the World Cup stage offers a fresh chapter. For Hendry, the challenge is as welcome as it is daunting.

“You learn a lot from these moments, playing against these top calibre players,” he said. “I'm quite comfortable coming up against Neymar and I look forward to it, it really should be a good battle.”

Now, as the group stage tightens and the stakes rise, the script hangs on a familiar question: with the world watching, how much more can Neymar and Ronaldo still bend a tournament to their will?