Manchester United defender Diogo Dalot believes that a 2026 World Cup victory for Portugal would be a fitting end to Cristiano Ronaldo's career. The versatile defender emphasized that not only Portugal, but the entire football world would unite to support the legendary forward. Dalot expressed confidence that his compatriot will have a fairytale ending to his final major international tournament. This is reported by Goal.com reports .
Dalot, who was included in the extended squad announced by Roberto Martinez, spoke about the romantic atmosphere surrounding the legendary forward in an interview with CazéTV. "I think it's the wish of not just Portugal, but the entire football world. It would be beautiful if Cristiano ended his career with a World Cup trophy, given everything he has done not only for his country but for football as a whole," the defender said.
Dalot added that Ronaldo does not need this trophy to be recognized as the greatest player of all time, but it would add a special touch to his collection. The 2026 tournament is expected to be the final global campaign for both Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. Unlike his rival, who triumphed with Argentina in Qatar four years ago, the 41-year-old Portuguese star is still burning with the desire to win this prestigious trophy.
Cristiano Ronaldo has unprecedented international stats, holding the absolute record with 143 goals in 226 appearances for his country. The Portugal national team will begin training camps in early June and will play friendly matches against Chile and Nigeria ahead of the tournament.
Martinez's men will face specific challenges in the group stage. The Portuguese will first test their strength against DR Congo, followed by matches against Uzbekistan and Colombia in the race for the knockout stages. With a star-studded squad, the 'Seleção' aims to reach the playoffs and ultimately win the championship.
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