It’s hard to believe the FIFA World Cup is only one year away. It feels like yesterday that Messi was holding the World Cup trophy, making headlines across the world that the GOAT had finally lifted football’s most coveted prize and cemented his legacy.
But, of course, there are some who still think another man deserves that title. For a long time, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi were seen as the two defining players of their generation, constantly competing for records and accolades, with a rivalry that lasted for over a decade.
Since moving to Al-Nassr FC, Ronaldo has been somewhat out of the equation, but he’s still the Portugal captain, and they’ll be relying on him in a year’s time to make headlines of his own. So is the rivalry still alive, and if so, can Ronaldo really compete with the new generation of stars to get his own hands on the trophy?
The thing about Ronaldo
Make no mistake, Ronaldo is still a top player, even if he’s not quite at the peak of his abilities like he was fifteen years ago.
For anyone looking at online sports betting odds before a Portugal game in 2010 or 2011, the odds were pretty much always in his favour, and that reflected the respect and fear he would command on the field. The odds aren’t quite as favourable now, but that doesn’t mean he’s not still a force to be reckoned with, especially when you take into account his recent performances. Looking at his work for Al Nassr, for instance, Ronaldo scored seven goals across five games in 2025, including two against Al-Riyadh and two against Al-Hilal.
He’s also been winning with Portugal, recently setting a new men’s international goal-scoring record and setting a record for World Cup qualifying goals. Is he the same player he was fifteen years ago? No. Is he still one of the top-rated and most respected players in the world of football? Undeniably yes.
A talisman for Portugal
And, really, that’s all that Portugal needs. Although it’s hard to say if forty-year-old Ronaldo will really outperform top football players like Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland, sometimes, all a team requires to succeed is a talisman. A leader who commands respect on the field and can strike fear into the hearts of opponents. Messi was that talisman, and Ronaldo can be too. They just need to build momentum first.
Portugal coach Roberto Martinez had no qualms about starting Ronaldo in the first four games of the World Cup qualifying campaign, with the backing of Portuguese football royalty such as Luís Figo saying his compatriot should start Ronaldo for Portugal in the World Cup proper. Yes, they were against the likes of Armenia, Hungary, and the Republic of Ireland, but Ronaldo duly responded by scoring 5 goals across the 4 games. For those saying he only scores against easy opposition, it should be pointed out that Ronaldo netted against both Germany and Spain as Portugal won the Nations League in June.
Momentum in a tournament, especially one as high-stakes as the FIFA World Cup, is crucial. It allows players to settle into a rhythm, build chemistry, and trust the tactical plan laid out for them – and, in the case of Portugal, it will lead them to believe that they’re relying on the right person.
With the team believing that, Ronaldo will have the space and freedom to buy into his own hype, which will then be crucial for the knock-out stages, where confidence and belief often win over physicality and tactical nuance. Ronaldo doesn’t have to be the best player on the pitch, but if he’s in the right mindset and running with his star power, there’s no doubt that it leads to some magic.
Conclusion
When it comes to Portugal relying on him, they’re probably right to do so. But the key is to target those first few group stage games, using team cohesion to build that momentum and, ultimately, the belief that Ronaldo has one last shot at glory on the world stage.
