One more chance. At 41, Cristiano Ronaldo realistically has only one final opportunity to chase a FIFA World Cup title and cap an already decorated career. A five-time Ballon dโOr winner, Ronaldo remains the highest scorer in menโs international football with 143 goals in 266 appearances for Portugal.
He was recently side-lined by a hamstring injury at club side Al Nassr in the Saudi Pro League and also missed Portugalโs friendly against the United States in Atlanta on April 1. However, if fit, he is expected to be included in Portugalโs World Cup squad.
If selected, Ronaldo will play on American soil for the first time since a 2014 pre-season friendly with Real Madrid against Manchester United in Michigan. Along with long-time rival Lionel Messi, he could become one of the first male players to feature in six World Cups. Ronaldo has already said in an interview that this tournament will โdefinitelyโ be his last World Cup.
Portugal enter Group K as favourites, alongside Colombia, Uzbekistan and Congo. Ranked fifth in the world, Portugal, however, suffered a setback during qualifiers with a 2-0 loss to Ireland last November, a match in which Ronaldo was sent off for elbowing an opponent. He was suspended for the next game, but Portugal responded strongly with a 9-1 win over Armenia to secure qualification.
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This will be Portugalโs ninth World Cup appearance. The team finished third in 1966 and fourth in 2006, when Ronaldo made his World Cup debut. In the 2022 edition, they reached the quarterfinals before losing 1-0 to Morocco, with Ronaldo starting on the bench and coming on in the second half.
Portugal are coached by Roberto Martรญnez and boast a strong squad including Manchester United midfielder Bruno Fernandes and Paris Saint-Germainโs rising star Joรฃo Neves.
The squad was also deeply affected by the death of Diogo Jota, who died in a car crash shortly after Portugalโs Nations League triumph.
Portugal begin their campaign against Congo on June 17 in Houston.
