Ronaldo will be returning to the United States desperate to get his hands on the World Cup trophy - with the most prestigious of prizes having so far eluded him across a remarkable playing career.
Former Manchester United team-mate and 2002 World Cup winner Kleberson told GOAL recently of Ronaldo’s desire to emulate eternal rival Lionel Messi by capturing a global crown: “Inside of him he probably feels ‘gosh, I have to win the World Cup, I can’t finish my career like this’.
“He has to work hard. It’s not just him, it’s other players. Neymar also is probably thinking ‘Messi has a World Cup, I don’t’. [Erling] Haaland as well, he might not get a World Cup. It’s inside players, inside these top players.
“Look at Adriano - he’s a big name in Brazil, in Italy he played at a great level, but he hasn’t won the World Cup. The World Cup is sometimes fair, sometimes unfair. I believe those guys look at me and think ‘oh my gosh, I can’t believe Kleberson has a World Cup and I haven’t!’ I don’t have five Ballons’ d’Or, but I have won the World Cup!”
Portugal have been placed in Group K at the 2026 World Cup. They will open their campaign against the winner of an inter-confederation play-off on June 17, before going on to face Uzbekistan and Colombia.