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Former Netherlands player Wesley Sneidjer has supported Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal to excel at the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup. He also said that Lionel Messi and Argentina's World Cup win in 2022 was just a fluke.
Ronaldo and Messi's last and record making world cup
Both Ronaldo and Messi are poised to create the record of becoming the only players to play in six different World Cup editions. Messi has said that winning the World Cup in 2022 brought self-satisfaction and completed his trophy cabinet, Ronaldo would be aiming to win the only trophy he is missing in his legendary career.
Wesley Sneidjer picks Portugal as favorites to win the 2026 FIFA World Cup
Speaking on Adventure Gamers, Sneidjer, who won a World Cup runner-up medal in 2010, picked Portugal as one of the favorites to lift the World Cup next year, ahead of defending champions Argentina.
He said:
"Portugal have a very strong team. For me they are one of the favourites so then I would say Cristiano Ronaldo has the stronger chance of winning the next World Cup compared to Lionel Messi."
The former midfielder said that Messi and Argentina were lucky World Cup winners in 2022 and called Portugal a better team.
"It was a great World Cup for Argentina in Qatar but they were a bit lucky as well. I think overall Portugal is a better team," he added.
Cristiano Ronaldo will not be in action for Portugal when they play their first game at the World Cup next year because of a match ban from a red card during the qualifiers.
Cristiano Ronaldo reflects on his participation in the 2026 FIFA World Cup
Cristiano Ronaldo has confirmed that the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup will be his last tournament with the Portuguese national team. The 41-year-old cited his age as the main reason, as he would have retired from the sport before the 2030 edition.
He told the BBC:
"Definitely, yes. I will be 41 years old and I think [this] will be the moment in the big competition."
In an interview with Piers Morgan, Ronaldo claimed that winning the World Cup is not his dream, and his legacy would not be determined by whether or not he wins the tournament.
"If you ask me Cristiano is a dream to win the World Cup? No, it's not a dream." No. To define what? To define if I'm one of the best in history to win one competition, six games, seven games. You think it's fair?," Ronaldo said.
Lionel Messi opens up on his participation in 2026 FIFA World Cup
Lionel Messi has revealed that his participation at the upcoming FIFA World Cup will depend on his physical and mental condition.
"Yes, obviously yes, it is a special World Cup, it is special to play with the national team and more important, official competitions and more what a World Cup means and after having won it too," he said in an interview with SPORT (via Bein Sports).
“But a little bit what I was telling you, I don’t want to be a burden in quotes, I want to feel good physically, be sure that I can help and contribute things to the group, to the squad," Messi added
“Our season is different from Europe. We are going to have a preseason involved, a few games until we reach the World Cup date and see on a day-to-day basis if I really feel good physically to be the way I would like to be and be able to participate," he concluded.
Both Messi and Ronaldo have reached the last stage of their football careers, but continue to perform amazingly for their respective clubs and countries.
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