World Cup: Fabregas questions Ronaldo’s goals

Cesc Fabregas has played down the contribution of Cristiano Ronaldo at the World

Cup and said that Argentina ’ s struggles are not all Lionel Messi ’ s fault .

Writing in a column for BBC Sport, Fabregas, who was left out of Spain ’ s squad for

this summer ’s tournament, said that Ronaldo ’ s four goals in two games , including

a hat trick against La Roja , “ have come from set - pieces , penalties or mistakes . ”

Fabregas also praised former Barcelona teammate Messi and bemoaned

Argentina ’ s lack of quality as they have drawn with Iceland and lost to Croatia

putting them on the brink of an early World Cup exit .

“ It was a similar story for Messi against Croatia , but it was notmall his fault , ” Fabregas said . “ As I said in my TV analysis after Argentina ’ s defeat , they look

like a broken team . “ So it is has been really difficult for him . He does not have the

quality in behind him , when he needs someone who can help him build up the play . ”Fabregas — who played alongside Messi at Barcelona — says his Ronaldo does not haven to work as hard for the team and that explains why he has been able to flourish.

“ These days , Cristiano Ronaldo has a very different role for Portugal — he mainly

stays up front and you no longer see him running all over the pitch , ” he added.

“ He is one of the big names in Russia who has made a strong start to this World

Cup, in terms of goals , with four so far .

“ Yes , he is playing well , but if you really look at what he has done, he has scored

one penalty, one free kick , one goal from a corner and one with a shot that David

De Gea should have saved . You cannot say that he and Portugal have shown great

combinations or tiki - taka football to score great goals .

“ You have to give him credit , of course , but his goals have come from set- pieces ,

penalties or mistakes . ”

Argentina must win their final group game against Nigeria on Tuesday to stand

any chance of progressing to the knockout stages , while Portugal need just a point

against Iran on Monday to advance