Ronaldo on 2026 World Cup: Winning it isn’t a dream | OneFootball

While he is in the final stage of his career, Cristiano Ronaldo remains at his peak, both with Al Nassr and the Portugal national team. Since his arrival in Arab football, the Portuguese continues to accumulate personal achievements and is getting closer to 1,000 goals. Internationally, he has already won the Euro Cup and the UEFA Nations League with Portugal on two occasions, but the World Cup remains elusive. Despite this, the forward surprised by stating that he does not consider winning the World Cup essential for his career.

CR7 is on track to play in his sixth World Cup, at the age of 41, no less. However, far from being obsessed with the title that Lionel Messi did manage to lift with the Argentine National Team, the star assured that it is not something that drives him crazy. "It's not a dream," he responded when asked by British interviewer Piers Morgan in a one-on-one interview.

When Morgan followed up, suggesting that such a title could "define" his career, Ronaldo went further: "No. Define what? Whether I'm one of the best in history? Winning a competition of six or seven games? Do you think that's fair?"

Thus, Cristiano Ronaldo made it clear that the World Cup does not keep him up at night. However, if his participation in the 2026 World Cup is confirmed, the Portuguese will reach six World Cup appearances. Interestingly, Messi would also reach that number in the United States, Mexico, and Canada. Thus, the careers of the "Bicho" and the "Pulga" remain connected until the end, with the possibility of both becoming the players with the most World Cup appearances in history.

That milestone would come towards the end of his career, an end that the player himself confessed is near: "It will be soon. I think I will be ready. Will it be tough? Of course. Will it be difficult? Yes. Will I probably cry? Yes, it's normal. I'm someone who cries easily, I don't hold back my feelings. I'm honest. What could replace football in my life? Nothing. Nothing will compare to the adrenaline of football, scoring a goal... That will be gone forever. But everything has a beginning and an end."

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.