ESPN pundit Steve Nicol reckons Cristiano Ronaldo would be a passenger if he features in Portugal’s starting XI at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The former further added that Ronaldo wouldn’t be physically fit enough to start next year due to his age.
Despite being in the twilight years of his career at the age of 40, Cristiano Ronaldo had a brilliant UEFA Nations League campaign, helping Portugal defeat Spain in the final (June 8). He netted the winner during their 2-1 win over Germany in the semi-final and leveled the scores in the final, making it 2-2 against Spain. A Selecao went on to win the penalty shootout 5-3.
In addition to his impressive finishing up front, Ronaldo notably pressed a lot against Spain and often dropped back to help defend. However, he had to be substituted in the 88th minute for Goncalo Ramos after picking up a knock.
During a segment on ESPN’s YouTube channel, Nicol was asked whether Cristiano Ronaldo’s recent performances had convinced him that the latter should start at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The former responded:
He added:
Cristiano Ronaldo is Portugal‘s most-capped player and all-time leading goalscorer at the international level. He has recorded 138 goals and 45 assists in 220 appearances across all competitions, helping his nation win three trophies.
Al-Nassr superstar Cristiano Ronaldo has hinted that he will remain with the Saudi outfit after he inspired Portugal to UEFA Nations League glory. When asked about his future after the game, he responded (via Yahoo Sports):
Ronaldo joined Al-Nassr as a free agent in January 2023, signing a two-and-a-half-year deal in the process. While the five-time Ballon d’Or winner has impressed individually, Al-Nassr have yet to win an official trophy since his arrival.
With his contract expiring at the end of the month, many fans expected Cristiano Ronaldo to leave Al-Nassr ahead of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup. Despite multiple sides like Al-Hilal and Wydad Casablanca allegedly interested in his signature, the Portugal ace is now expected to re-sign with Al-Nassr.
Silas is a Liverpool supporter through and through and admires everything about the club – it’s history, culture, style of play, and all of its iconic players and managers. His favorite player is Steven Gerrard, who was also one of the primary reasons to get interested in football and support Liverpool.
Unsurprisingly, his favorite manager is Jurgen Klopp, who transformed the Reds from a mid-table club to Premier League champions. Liverpool’s fourth goal in their 4-0 win over Barcelona, scored by Divock Origi after the iconic ‘corner taken quickly’ moment from Trent Alexander-Arnold, holds a special place in Silas’ heart.
Apart from Europe’s top five leagues, he also follows Major League Soccer and the Saudi Pro League. When not writing, he indulges in reading, traveling, fitness and gaming.
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