Former Aston Villa striker Gabriel Agbonlahor has criticized Cristiano Ronaldo, claiming the Portuguese star is holding his national team back. Agbonlahor made this statement after Ronaldo scored his 900th career goal in Portugal’s 1-0 win against Croatia in the UEFA Nations League in Lisbon on Thursday night.
At 39, Ronaldo made headlines by becoming the first men’s player to surpass the 900-goal milestone with his match-winning strike.
However, Agbonlahor believes the legendary forward no longer has what it takes to compete at the highest level.
“There’s a reason why he’s playing in Saudi Arabia, why Manchester United let him go, and why he’s not playing in Europe,” Agbonlahor remarked during an appearance on TalkSPORT.
The former England striker went on to argue that Ronaldo’s presence is hindering the development of other players within the Portuguese squad.
He cited Ronaldo’s performance at the Euros, suggesting that his inclusion may have cost Portugal, as younger talents were left on the bench.
“I know people will say it’s harsh, but he had his time. While he still has ability, is it enough for the highest level?
Portugal has so many exciting players who were sidelined during the Euros,” Agbonlahor concluded.
