The older sister of the Seleccao skipper has slammed fans advocating for his brother to be axed from the national team ahead of the World Cup.

Cristiano Ronaldo's sister has hit out at fans of the Portuguese national team advocating for his brother to be dropped from the squad for the upcoming FIFA World Cup. Katia Aveiro has accused the supporters of being 'sick, soulless and forever ungrateful' owning to their criticism of the Manchester United star whom she insists the remains 'the best player in the world' amid his recent struggles.

Ronaldo endured a difficult evening at the Braga Municipal Stadium on Tuesday night as Portugal failed to qualify to the finals of the Nations League at the expense of Spain. The 37-year-old forward missed several great goalscoring opportunities in the night's affair before seeing his side concede an Alvaro Morata winner in the 88th minute. After the conclusion of the game, fans were critical of his performance, with some asking for him to be dropped for his appaent inefficiency. 

Ahead of the clash with Spain, Portuguese newspaper A Bola decorated the back page of their paper with an opinion piece alluding that Ronaldo should be dropped. The headline "Less Ronaldo, more Portugal," was also followed by a fan poll that. Per the result, 57 percent of the voters would have wanted the Manchester United superstar on the bench against Spain. This, along with the criticism that was level at the player on social media has led his sister, Katia Aveiro, to come to his defense. 

'He has his family and those who love him by his side. They will always be by his side, no matter what," Aveiro wrote about her brother on Instagram.

'But the current times don't surprise me at all. The Portuguese spit on the plate they eat [from], it has always been that way.

'That's why when someone appears from the ashes and changes mentalities, it bothers... With you always, my king. Calm down.'

'It is necessary to give a hand to those who have always given theirs to Portugal,' she added.

'But the Portuguese are sick, petty, soulless, stupid, ungrateful and forever ungrateful. This guy who's sitting, he's on his knees... There's no one to give him a hand,' she continued.

'It is cruel. And it was already so much, but so much that he gave and gives. The one sitting is called Cristiano Ronaldo and he is just the best player in the world.'

Ahead of the meeting with Spain, Ronaldo expressed his eagerness to play key roles for the Portuguese national team in the upcoming World Cup in Qatar and the 2024 European Championship. He said: 'I hope to be part of the Federation for a few more years," Ronaldo said.

'I still feel motivated; my ambition is high. I'm in a team with young people. I want to be part of this World Cup and the European too; I'm going to assume that right away.'