Cristiano Ronaldo played his last World Cup game after Portugal was eliminated by Spain following a 1-0 loss. While the Al Nassr striker’s bid to win the World Cup title ended in heartbreak, football legend Wayne Rooney has talked about his former teammate’s mentality.
Wayne Rooney hails Cristiano Ronaldo's 'Unique' mentality after Portugal bows out of World Cup
In a recent BBC Sport interview, former Manchester United teammate Rooney praised Ronaldo's extraordinary self-belief, saying the Portuguese star genuinely thinks he is the greatest player of all time. Rooney said:
"He believes he's the best player ever.”
The England legend, who shared a dressing room with Ronaldo at Old Trafford, described his mentality as unlike anything he has seen in football. He added:
"He absolutely lives and has dedicated his whole life to football and he loves it so much.”
Rooney noted that Ronaldo's attitude of wanting to play every game, score in every match, and break every record is what has sustained his record-breaking career at the highest level for more than two decades.
The comments come as speculation grows over Ronaldo's future following Portugal's elimination from the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with many wondering if the five-time Ballon d'Or winner has reached the end of an era.
At 41, Ronaldo continues to display the same fierce determination that defined his journey from Madeira to global superstardom. The Real Madrid legend had earlier stated that the 2026 edition will be his last World Cup.
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