Ex-Sporting CP footballer Marius Niculae, who was Cristiano Ronaldo's teammate during the latter's stint at the club said, "Ronaldo wasn't a sociable person...We'd...go out to eat, but he never came." "Ronaldo was always in his own world. He'd go to the gym alone," added Niculae. Talking about the 2022 FIFA World Cup, Niculae stated the Portugal players didn't accept Ronaldo.