'At the World Cup, Ronaldo and Portugal can do anything' - Man United legend hails Portuguese star for skipping CWC
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Cristiano Ronaldo celebrating in the Nations League final. || Imago

'At the World Cup, Ronaldo and Portugal can do anything' - Man United legend hails Portuguese star for skipping CWC

Stephen Oladehinde 10:35 - 02.07.2025

Louis Saha heaps praise on his former teammate, Cristiano Ronaldo, saying he was "smart to skip the Club World Cup"

The 2026 World Cup could be Ronaldo's last major international tournament for Portugal.

However, Saha doesn't rule out the possibility of CR7 playing beyond 2027, when his contract with Al Nassr expires.

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What Saha said

Louis Saha, Cristiano Ronaldo's Manchester United teammate for four and a half seasons, commented on the Portuguese star's decision to forgo a club signing in favour of focusing on the World Cup.

"He's a different breed. With the 2026 World Cup in mind, I think he's already planning for it. I'd love to see him on that stage, and I think skipping the Club World Cup was a smart move. It's physically impossible for a player of his caliber to gamble on a competition like that," the former French international told Coin Poker, via Abola.

Louis Saha
Louis Saha

"For those who want to see the best possible World Cup, it's great that he stayed safe and rested. Ronaldo continues to put on a great show, and he'll be as fit and competitive as possible for the tournament," he added.

"With Cristiano, you never know because it always depends on him. He's still proving to the world that he's a great player. He's demonstrating it not only at Al Nassr, but also for Portugal. Seeing him lift the Nations League trophy was fantastic."

Saha, who won the Champions League with Ronaldo in 2008, sees no limits to what Portugal can achieve at next year's World Cup.

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Cristiano Ronaldo in action || Imago
Cristiano Ronaldo in action || Imago

"In a tournament of this magnitude, Ronaldo can do anything, and so can Portugal. Obviously, you need to be realistic. They aren't the favorites, and Ronaldo might not be able to play every three days. When you're 41 or 42, you can't recover like you used to. It takes more time."

"However, I have faith in him, and Ronaldo will find a way to get the most out of himself. I think he's still extremely dangerous in attack, and it's wonderful to see him still playing," he concluded.

Finally, Saha addressed the eternal rivalry between Ronaldo and Lionel Messi: "With Lionel Messi in the United States, you can also appreciate his fantastic career, but I've said it before and I'll say it again, I think what Ronaldo has done in football eclipses Messi."