Diogo Dalot: United ace reveals his ultimate World Cup ambition | OneFootball

Manchester United full-back Diogo Dalot has opened up on his World Cup ambitions in a recent conversation. The Portuguese right-back has been a first-team regular for the Red Devils in the past few seasons and has survived several managerial upheavals.

Now one of the longest-serving players in the squad, Dalot is coming off a decent campaign. The 27 year old started the season as a wing-back under former head coach Ruben Amorim, before slotting into the right-back role under Michael Carrick.

Dalot registered one goal and three assists in 36 appearances across competitions, including 31 starts.

Diogo Dalot Stats: 2025/26 Season

Source: Transfermarkt.

With the club season over, the Portuguese full-back is now preparing to participate in the highly anticipated 2026 FIFA World Cup next.

Dalot’s World Cup Dream

Speaking at UBBO during a Sport Zone and Puma event, as cited by A Bola, Dalot revealed that he dreams of winning the World Cup with his country. He said: “I have a few dreams, and becoming world champion is one of them.”

“To make that dream a reality, we know we have to work hard; we still have three matches ahead of us, which is our main focus. And then it’s one match at a time until the final, if possible, and winning is a major goal we have.”

“I am confident that we have what it takes; of course, we know that these competitions are tough. Unfortunately, history does not show that Portugal has ever won, so we want to achieve something that has never been done before, as is obvious, but always with the humility to work hard to make it happen.”

Having recently spoken about idolising Cristiano Ronaldo, Dalot added that playing alongside the United legend is a source of pride. He said: “Every Portuguese person is proud to be represented on the football pitch by a player like Cristiano.”

“Being part of the squad now and being closer to him, spending time with him, is yet another source of pride. I don’t know if it will be his last, but let’s hope it goes well, because for everything he’s already done for the country, he deserves to win.”

Wanted Amorim to succeed at United

Dalot went on to speak highly of Amorim, who endured a tough 14-month spell at Old Trafford and was removed from his position in January. The Portuguese full-back said: “Obviously, I would have liked things to have gone better. In terms of results, it wasn’t what either we or Ruben wanted.”

“Now I wish him all the best for his next challenge; I’ll be another big supporter, along with many other Portuguese fans.”

United initially appointed Michael Carrick as the Portuguese head coach’s replacement. The Englishman went on an exceptional run of 12 wins and two defeats in 17 games to secure a third-place finish in the Premier League and earn the full-time job.

Dalot added that he is pleased with how the season ended and remained optimistic about the future. He said: “And I’m also pleased that we’ve ended the season with good results, qualifying for the Champions League, which was our main objective. Let’s see what next season brings.”

Eyeing a World Cup goal for Portugal

Dalot concluded by expressing a desire to score a goal for Portugal at the upcoming World Cup. He said: “Any goal you score for the national team is a source of pride, and a competition like the World Cup would be… of course I dream of that; obviously I have that goal, to be able to help Portugal. The best way is with goals, and why not? So I’ll do my very best to score a goal for the national team.”

Dalot has registered three goals and three assists in 33 appearances for Portugal to date, with all his goals coming in the UEFA Nations League. His only three appearances at the World Cup came in 2022 in Qatar, where he started the demoralising 1-0 defeat to Morocco in the quarter-finals.

Final Thoughts

Dalot’s versatility has made him an asset for United, with the full-back operating on both flanks this season. As the Red Devils prepare to improve the squad over the summer, fans will also keep an eye on the Portuguese’s exploits at the World Cup, as he could play a crucial role next season.

Featured image by Alex Livesey/Getty Images

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