"I'm not saying it would be better" - Luiz Felipe Scolari offers opinion on Cristiano Ronaldo playing for Portugal at 2026 FIFA World Cup

Former Brazil manager Luiz Felipe Scolari reckons Cristiano Ronaldo is ready to feature for Portugal in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. However, he stressed that it wouldn't necessarily be better to include the 39-year-old, citing how he was able to find relative success with A Selecao with fewer superstars at his disposal.

While Cristiano Ronaldo has yet to publicly confirm his participation in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, he has reportedly decided to play. Scolari gave Ronaldo his backing during the 110th anniversary of the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) in Oeiras. The Al-Nassr ace will be 41 years of age at the time of the next World Cup.

Scolari told a section of journalists (via O Jogo):

“He is having a very good year. I was in Saudi Arabia recently and spoke to Cristiano. He has developed everything that leads him to his current status and will be ready for Roberto [Martínez] to call him up."

The 76-year-old also insisted that their success did not depend solely on the iconic player. He referred to his past as Portugal's head coach between 2003 and 2008 and said:

“I’m not saying it would be better, because in our time, despite some difficulties, it was also very good. Those were very good times. It didn’t have all this, but it had other things that drove us and we achieved what Portugal has today."

Despite having a weaker squad than Roberto Martinez's current team and no Cidade do Futebol, Scolari was able to guide his men to the Euro 2004 final and the 2006 World Cup semi-finals.

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"I am almost certain that he will be there" - Portugal star Bruno Fernandes on Cristiano Ronaldo potentially featuring in 2026 FIFA World Cup

Manchester United skipper Bruno Fernandes is confident that Cristiano Ronaldo will feature for the Portugal national team in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The competition is set to take place in Canada, Mexico, and the United States between June 11 and July 19, 2026.

Despite featuring for the national team in five editions of the World Cup, Ronaldo has yet to win the prestigious prize. With the national team, he has only secured Euro 2016 and the 2019 Nations League.

Fernandes told TNT Sports Mexico (via News24):

“I not only believe it, but I am almost certain that he will be there. It would be beautiful for Cristiano Ronaldo to fulfill his dream of winning the World Cup with the National Team. Not just for him, but for us Portuguese."

Ronaldo notably struggled during the 2022 FIFA World Cup, garnering one goal and zero assists in five appearances.