Rooney explains: why is Ronaldo always offside?

England football legend Wayne Rooney has made a striking observation about Cristiano Ronaldo's positioning during games. Speaking on the BBC, Rooney explained the reason behind the 41-year-old star repeatedly staying in offside positions in Portugal's DR Congo match at the 2026 World Cup.

Defending his former Manchester United teammate, Rooney stressed that Ronaldo's movement is not down to laziness but is the product of an extremely clever footballing mind. According to Rooney, Ronaldo positions himself behind the defenders, forcing opponents to keep searching for him over their shoulders. As the defenders turn to check "where is he?", they drop off, opening up a large space in front of the back line. The England legend said this automatically creates room for Ronaldo's teammates, advising viewers to watch the star's positioning and summing it up as "really clever."

Rooney's comments came at a time when criticism of Ronaldo's performance was intensifying. In the opener, which Portugal drew 1-1 with DR Congo, Ronaldo failed to take several chances and extended his run without a goal at major tournaments to 10 games. That picture had set the stage for sharp criticism from pundits, led by Thierry Henry.

Rooney's praise of Ronaldo drew a divided reaction on social media. Some found the former United star's analysis spot on; others argued Rooney was being too favourable toward his old teammate. While some users criticised the comment directly, others made jokes such as "United players are contractually obliged."

Given the pair's history, having played together for years at Manchester United and won multiple titles, Rooney's defence was not a surprise. Even so, the debate keeps the questions over the 41-year-old Ronaldo's role and contribution at the tournament in the spotlight. With two group games still to come, the Portuguese star will need to be effective on the pitch both to answer the criticism and to keep his team's qualification hopes alive.

Image: BBC Sport