Claims circulating on social media have linked former Germany star Toni Kroos to alleged comments criticising Portugal midfielder Bruno Fernandes over the way he plays alongside Cristiano Ronaldo for the national team. The post claims that Kroos noticed Fernandes playing backward passes instead of pushing attacks forward, allegedly affecting Ronaldo’s opportunities in front of goal.
The claims further suggest that Fernandes has had opportunities to create attacks but failed to make some passes that could have put Ronaldo in good scoring positions. However, there is no evidence showing that such decisions were made deliberately or that there was any personal dispute between Fernandes and Ronaldo.
The debate over how Portugal play when Ronaldo is on the pitch has existed for some time, particularly because of changes in the team’s system and the roles of other players. Fernandes has also previously spoken about Ronaldo’s importance to the national team, highlighting his contribution despite changes to Portugal’s style of play.
As for Kroos, a report published in June 2026 quoted him defending Ronaldo after the Portuguese forward faced criticism following Portugal’s match against DR Congo. Kroos said Ronaldo is still playing because he is Portugal’s best striker, a position that does not align with the social media claims linking him to criticism of Fernandes over Ronaldo.
