The 2026 World Cup is set to be a historic tournament, unlike any that have come before it. Expanded to 48 teams for the first time and spread across three countries - the United States, Canada and Mexico - it promises to be the biggest spectacle in the competition’s near-100-year history.
Cristiano Ronaldo endured a frustrating evening in Leiria as Portugal concluded their 2026 World Cup preparations with a slender 2-1 victory over Nigeria. Despite the win, the 41-year-old veteran lacked his usual clinical edge, spurning several golden opportunities to extend his legendary international goal tally.
Cristiano Ronaldo may be entering the twilight of his legendary career, but former Portugal team-mate Hugo Almeida insists the 41-year-old remains the ultimate difference-maker. As the Selecao prepare for the 2026 World Cup, expectations are soaring for the five-time Ballon d'Or winner to finally secure the one trophy that has eluded him.
Cristiano Ronaldo is preparing to lead Portugal into a record-breaking sixth World Cup, but questions are already being asked about whether his time on home soil is coming to an end. National team boss Roberto Martinez has addressed whether a pre-tournament friendly against Nigeria serves as a final farewell for the legendary forward.
Cristiano Ronaldo is preparing to lead Portugal into his sixth World Cup finals this summer, but questions remain over how long the legendary forward can continue at the highest level. His former team-mate Beto has now weighed in on the 41-year-old’s longevity and the Selecao's chances of finally lifting the biggest trophy in international football.
Portuguese legend Maniche believes Cristiano Ronaldo remains indispensable to the national team and should start at the 2026 World Cup. Despite the forward's advancing age, his former team-mate insists there is currently no superior alternative to the five-time Ballon d'Or winner.
Former Barcelona and England striker Gary Lineker has once again weighed in on the eternal Lionel Messi versus Cristiano Ronaldo debate, insisting that placing the Argentine above the Portuguese is simply a matter of footballing fact rather than a personal insult. Lineker also revealed how his unwavering stance on the GOAT debate caused a personal rift with the Al-Nassr and Portugal superstar.
Cristiano Ronaldo is often depicted as a superhuman figure whose obsession with perfection separates him from the rest of the sporting world. However, former team-mate Danilo has offered a refreshing glimpse into the reality of sharing a dressing room with the five-time Ballon d'Or winner, insisting that the Portuguese icon is far more grounded than his public persona suggests.
Kylian Mbappe is currently navigating the intense scrutiny that comes with being the focal point of the Real Madrid attack, a burden previously carried by club legend Cristiano Ronaldo. Despite a prolific start to life in Spain, the Frenchman has faced accusations of arrogance and claims that his presence disrupts team balance, much like the debates that once surrounded the Portuguese icon.
The football world has spent nearly two decades debating who is the greatest of all time, but the prospect of seeing Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo in the same shirt once felt like a genuine possibility for Real Madrid. Former Los Blancos president Ramon Calderon has shed light on whether the club ever truly believed they could unite the two legendary figures at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Cristiano Ronaldo has trademarked some of the most iconic moves in football history, and it seems the Al-Nassr superstar is already passing those secrets down to the next generation. In a heartwarming clip shared on social media, the legendary forward took time away from his intense World Cup preparations to host a private coaching session in his own backyard.
Real Madrid's star Kylian Mbappe has set the stage for a thrilling 2026 World Cup by making a series of bold predictions regarding the tournament's top marksmen. The France captain, who is looking to banish the memories of a painful final defeat in Qatar, has weighed in on the eternal debate between Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi while asserting his own dominance.
Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes showed why he's Portugal's most important player going into this summer's World Cup in North America by starring in a 2-1 friendly win over Chile in Lisbon on Saturday evening that featured a stupid red card for winger Rafael Leao and a worryingly ineffective display from Seleccao skipper Cristiano Ronaldo.
England have never come up against Lionel Messi, and Robbie Fowler has told GOAL why the 2026 World Cup could be the perfect occasion in which to cross paths with the Argentine GOAT. The ex-Three Lions frontman says the 2022 champion should not scare Thomas Tuchel’s side, while a reunion with old adversaries Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal should also be embraced.
