Portugal
Will Ronaldo, 41 and scoreless in his opener, finally get the one trophy that defined him by its absence?
Team rating
- Attack88
- Midfield86
- Defense83
Next matches
- Next upvs UzbekistanNRG Stadium, HoustonJun 23
- vs ColombiaHard Rock Stadium, Miami GardensJun 27
The read
Portugal are loaded with talent and a genuine favorite, but the whole tournament hangs on one man: Cristiano Ronaldo, 41, at his sixth and final World Cup, still chasing the one trophy that has always eluded him. He started badly — scoreless and visibly furious in a shock 1-1 draw with debutants DR Congo. Behind him a wave of brilliant young players is already ready to take over.
The fan’s readA coronation and a succession crisis at once — will Ronaldo at 41 finally claim the trophy that eluded him, with a wave of brilliant kids waiting for the baton? No team carries a heavier "what if."
Live storylines
- Ronaldo's Final Curtain
Messi's eternal rival, also at his sixth and final World Cup, age 41 — the only thing missing from his career is a World Cup. The CR7-vs-Messi parallel-careers saga gets its last chapter, and Ronaldo is running out of clock to win the one trophy that defines greatness for non-fans.
Frustrating start: Portugal held to a 1-1 draw by debutants DR Congo (June 17). Ronaldo played the full 90 but was goalless and missed two clear chances, visibly disgusted. He and Messi are now the only men to play six World Cups.
The cast
- Roberto MartínezSpanish coach; previously led Belgium's star generation to a 2018 World Cup semifinal but no trophymanager
- Cristiano Ronaldo ★At 41, on his sixth World Cup, the one trophy that defines his career by its absence — and he just blanked again.ClubAl Nassr
- Bruno FernandesWhile the cameras chase Ronaldo, he does the actual footballing work.ClubManchester United
- Joao NevesScored on his World Cup debut at 21 with the calm of a veteran.ClubParis Saint-Germain
- Ruben DiasOne of the world's best defenders, cancelling danger before it even arrives.ClubManchester City
- Rafael LeaoWhen he runs into open space, defenders genuinely don't know which way he's going.ClubAC Milan
- Bernardo SilvaA City magician who never loses the ball — feints, half-turns, and an engine that lets Portugal control games through sheer technique.ClubMan City
- VitinhaPSG's pass-master who runs the tempo with quick feet and quicker decisions — the midfield brain behind a Champions League winner.ClubPSG
- Nuno MendesA PSG left-back with frightening recovery pace — locks down the world's best wingers, then bombs forward to become one himself.ClubPSG
- Diogo CostaPortugal's young number one who saved three penalties in a single World Cup shootout — quick reflexes and ice in the veins.ClubPorto
- Antonio SilvaA Benfica-bred centre-back who arrived fully formed — composed beyond his years, tipped to anchor Portugal's defense for a decade.ClubBenfica
Key moments
- 2016Euro 2016 — the only big onePortugal won the European Championship, their first-ever major trophy — but Ronaldo was injured early in the final and watched most of it from the sideline as a teammate scored the winner. It remains the single biggest prize of his career.
- 19661966 — Eusébio's runPortugal finished third at the World Cup behind their legendary striker Eusébio, who was the tournament's top scorer. It stood as their best-ever finish for forty years.
- —Ronaldo, all-time recordCristiano Ronaldo is the leading goalscorer in the entire history of men's international football, with more than 140 goals for Portugal — yet a World Cup is the one trophy missing.