Controversial Ronaldo Statement Ahead Of World Cup

With Portugal preparing for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, it has been claimed that the side are better without captain Cristiano Ronaldo.

The Team of the Shields have been drawn in Group K alongside DR Congo, Uzbekistan and Colombia, with Opta's supercomputer giving them a 13.01% chance of reaching the final and a 6.74% chance of winning the tournament.

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The side were also handed a 59.07% chance of topping their group, which may come as no surprise to many given the calibre of players selected in Portugal's squad.

Their World Cup squad includes big names such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Paris Saint-Germain duo Vitinha and Joao Neves, Manchester United's Bruno Fernandes, and Manchester City star Bernardo Silva, among others.

It will be a significant occasion for Ronaldo, who, alongside Lionel Messi, is looking to become one of the first players to participate in six FIFA World Cups. The former Real Madrid star currently sits fifth on the all-time appearance list with 22 matches, four behind Messi's record, while also having scored eight World Cup goals.

This comes after Ronaldo became the first player to score at five different World Cups during the 2022 tournament in Qatar.

However, according to Major League Soccer icon Taylor Twellman, Portugal may actually perform better without the five-time Ballon d'Or winner.

“For Portugal, and I’m going to make a bold statement here, this is the best team Ronaldo has ever had around him at a World Cup,” Twellman said per AS.

“I actually think Portugal is at their best if he doesn’t play.”

Former Manchester United teammate Eric Djemba-Djemba, however, holds a contrasting view, even suggesting that Ronaldo should be included in Portugal's squad for the 2030 FIFA World Cup if he is still playing by then.

“He is obsessed with improving himself and competing. I have never seen a mentality like his before. If he is still playing when the 2030 World Cup arrives in Portugal, then I believe he should absolutely be in the squad," Djemba-Djemba said per Sportskeeda.

“It would be the perfect ending to his career and an incredible moment for Portuguese football. And imagine if Cristiano Jr is there as well. That would be unbelievable."

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