If you give Ronaldo one centimeter inside the penalty spot, you are dead!

The Italian coach of the Uzbekistan national team, Fabio Cannavaro, praised Portuguese striker Cristiano Ronaldo, who “if you give him one centimeter inside the penalty area, you are dead,” after he scored a brace in a 5-0 win in the second round of the first round of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Cannavaro, who was crowned captain with his country at the 2006 World Cup, said in a press conference: “The players play for him.” They look for him and give him the ball, and he always has excellent movement. As a defender, you have to be very smart to stay close to him, because if you give him one centimeter inside the area, you are dead.”
Cannavaro added: “Many people think that playing in Asia, as Cristiano does, is a waste of time. On the contrary, you come to the World Cup and show that at 41 you are still hungry. Messi plays in the American League and still continues to write history after the World Cup. Football is no longer limited to Europe only.”
“Ronaldo is a great professional,” he added. “I told him, ‘Why don’t you keep playing for a few more years?’”