WorldCup2026

For Cristiano Ronaldo to win the 2026 World Cup, his path to victory relies on evolving his role from a relentless engine into a strategic "penalty-box predator" and spiritual leader within a tactically flexible Portuguese squad. At 41, his success will depend on capitalizing on the elite service provided by a golden generation of teammates—such as Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva, and Vitinha—who can dominate possession and deliver the ball into danger zones where Ronaldo's finishing instincts remain world-class. Manager Roberto Martínez has signaled a strategy that leverages Ronaldo’s "mental edge" and experience to unlock deep-sitting defenses, while potentially using his gravity to draw defenders away and create space for dynamic wingers like Rafael Leão. Ultimately, lifting the trophy will require Ronaldo to embrace this specialized, efficiency-focused role—delivering clutch goals in high-pressure moments—while the squad's younger core shoulders the heavy defensive workload and transitional energy needed to survive the grueling knockout stages.