Five-time Ballon d'Or winner dreams of Portugal-Brazil final
Published: 18 Nov 2022 - 11:22 am | Last Updated: 18 Nov 2022 - 11:24 am
A file photo shows Portugal’s forward Cristiano Ronaldo. AFP
Five-time Ballon d’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo believes the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 will be the best-ever tournament while dreaming of a potential final with Brazil.
Ronaldo, in a video posted across his social media platforms in which he was speaking to LiveScore, said he constantly jokes with his Manchester United team-mate Brazilian Casemiro on the possibility of a World Cup clash that he hopes will happen.
“I hope so, I joke with Casemiro, and I say the final will be Portugal vs Brazil. Wow. It’ll be a dream,” Ronaldo said in the video.
“To be honest, it’s the World Cup, and It’s the most difficult competition in the world. I’m dreaming about that. I know it will be tough, will be difficult. But dreaming, It’s free, and I’m dreaming all the time. So for me, the most important thing is to be there (at the World Cup) to compete. In my opinion, it probably will be the best World Cup ever. Let’s see,” the former Real Madrid marksman added.
The Portuguese star is also the top-scoring player in international football, with 117 goals from 191 matches. Since making his debut in August 2003, Ronaldo, arguably one of the two greatest players to ever play the game, has led the Portuguese resurgence as the team transitioned from Luis Figo and Rui Costa to the then fleetfooted youngster. He has since led A Selecao to their only international title at Euro 2016 and the UEFA Nations League.
Meanwhile, Ronaldo, who has seven goals at the World Cup, hopes to beat Portugal’s icon Eusebio’s nine goals.
“Good challenge, I respect our Eusebio a lot. It’s something that all the Portuguese keep him in their heart, and he is an unbelievable person. But if you have the opportunity and if you have the chance (to beat the record), I think Eusebio will be happy in the sky. He’s going to give me luck to beat his record,” Ronaldo added.
Commenting on the World Cup being played in the winter, the 37-year-old, making his fifth appearance at the football mundial, said it would be ‘interesting’ playing at the World Cup at this time.
“The feeling is good to play this kind of competition at the end of the year. It’s interesting, it is a challenge, and it is different. But in my mind, I think it will be good. I’m excited too. So it will be my fifth World Cup, and I’m really glad for that and to play in another World Cup.”
Declaring his love for the warm weather, Ronaldo shrugged off talks of the weather affecting play, saying the players are ready to play.
Portugal begins their Group H campaign against Ghana on November 24 at Stadium 974; they face Uruguay on November 28 at the Lusail Stadium and then end the group stage with a clash four days later against Korea at Education City.
