Zielinski defends posing for a post-match picture with Cristiano Ronaldo

Poland captain Piotr Zielinski has been criticized after taking a photo with Cristiano Ronaldo – following a 5-1 defeat to Portugal.

The striker and team-mate Nicola Zalewski linked up with Ronaldo in Porto on Friday evening, despite the result threatening Poland with relegation from the Nations League.

Ronaldo himself had scored two goals during the riot to leave Poland in turmoil with five defeats in eight games ahead of their crucial clash with Scotland on Monday night.

Former Poland captain Jacek Bak accused Zielinski and Zalewski of having “no honor” for smiling next to a man who “fucked” us on the same night.

But Zielinski hit back: “Nicola and I approached him, asked for a photo and took it. Neither Cristiano nor we had a problem with it, that's all.

'I'm not interested in what happens on social media. For me, Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the top players in football history. I felt like taking a photo and I did. That's it. Why is it inappropriate?'

The Inter Milan star added: 'We lost the match but what should I do? Hide in a corner? I went up to him and asked him for a photo, and that was it. That's what I was looking forward to. He (Bak) has the right to have his own opinion. But I don't think there was anything wrong with it.'

The 51-year-old Bak was sharp in his criticism and seemed to demand consequences for Zielinski, who has 98 international matches to his name, and 26-time international Zalewski.

'It's not my thing. Times were different in the past. We get 5-1 [defeat] and I have to ask Ronaldo for a photo? The man who fucked us a moment earlier?

'Have we really no honor in us? Nowadays social media is the most important thing and is the first to post a photo with Ronaldo better? That's not the way to go.

'Let's put it bluntly: coach [Michal] Probierz should respond. The only thing he was missing was to have his picture taken with Ronaldo, or perhaps switch jackets with Roberto Martinez.

'I don't think I'm cut out for this time. It's sad. I think I'm cut from a different cloth. Today's world is unfortunately like that.'

Bak is no nobody in Polish football: between 1993 and 2008 he made 96 appearances for the national team, which puts him in 10th place of all time.

Zielinski himself is highly respected, having won the Serie A title with Napoli in 2022/23 and being crowned Polish Footballer of the Year in 2023.

He has scored four goals for Poland this year and they will be hoping he can create a special moment against Scotland, with whom they are level at the bottom of the Nations League A Group 1.

If Poland draw, they will at least avoid automatic relegation and condemn Scotland to the second tier.

And Poland boss Probierz was quick to defend Zielinski and Zalewski and stay focused.

“I always say to the players: if you have a problem, if you feel like doing something before the game, take a picture before the game,” he said.

'The ninety minutes are crucial. This time we failed, but we know what to do, how to play, how to work. Every player is a human being. We sometimes forget that. These are people living their lives and they are young people.”