Cristiano Ronaldo, the 41-year-old captain of Portugal, has dismissed concerns about his fitness level ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Despite failing to score in either of Portugal's pre-tournament friendlies, Ronaldo told reporters on Friday that he is physically fine.
Ronaldo's Confidence
“Physically? I’m fine,” Ronaldo said, as reported by ESPN. “Have you not seen my matches?” The forward scored 28 times for Al Nassr this season, helping the club win the Saudi Pro League title in his fourth campaign. However, critics note that the level of competition in the Saudi league is significantly lower than in Europe, even if top teams feature former European talent.
World Cup Experience
Ronaldo is set to appear in his sixth World Cup, aiming to add to his eight career goals in the tournament. Portugal's Group K opener is on Wednesday against DR Congo in Houston. Manager Roberto Martinez continues to build the attack around the five-time Ballon d'Or winner, who led Portugal with five goals in qualifying and averaged 1.23 goals per 90 minutes.
Durability Under Scrutiny
With Portugal facing eight matches in 33 days if they hope to win the World Cup for the first time, Ronaldo's durability has come under scrutiny. His relatively unremarkable performances in friendlies have drawn attention, though such matches are often poor predictors of tournament success. “It has been good but tiring because we’ve worked hard,” Ronaldo said of Portugal's preparations. “We’ve had the upper hand in our matches, but what matters most is when the ball starts rolling on the 17th, in the first game, and then when the pressure really starts to mount — that’s when we’ll see the true champions.”
Aging Stars in the Tournament
Ronaldo is not the only aging star expected to play major minutes. Luka Modric, 40, is set to feature heavily for Croatia, who finished second in 2018 and third in 2022. Lionel Messi, who turns 39 on June 24, remains integral to Argentina's title defense after leading South American teams with eight goals in World Cup qualifying.
