Manchester City defender Ruben Dias has outlined Portugal's ambitions at the 2026 FIFA World Cup as captain Cristiano Ronaldo prepares for what could be his final appearance at the tournament. Portugal, who have never won the World Cup, are determined to change that history under manager Roberto Martinez.
Ronaldo's Record and Experience
At 41 years and 121 days old, Ronaldo is the second-oldest player at the tournament and is competing in his sixth World Cup, a record he shares with Lionel Messi and Guillermo Ochoa, as noted by Fox Sports. His leadership and experience are expected to be crucial for the Selecao's campaign.
Dias on Team Spirit and Ambition
Ruben Dias emphasized the emotional significance of this World Cup for the players, their families, and fans. He stated that the long anticipation makes the tournament feel more special. Dias highlighted that Portugal's main driving force is the collective will to win, which is shared among all players and staff.
"I feel like in every competition we've gone through, we've been progressing. We have many quality players. Also, we have a lot of players playing at the best level of football – that comes with dealing with the pressure, knowing what that pressure feels like," Dias told FIFA.
He added: "The feeling of belief will have to grow with the competition, with the feeling of confidence after every game, after every step, after every difficulty. So, we're humble about it, but we're more ambitious than ever."
Portugal's World Cup History
Portugal's best World Cup finish was third place in 1966 in England, followed by a fourth-place finish in 2006 in Germany. Their last outing ended in a quarter-final loss to Morocco, who became the first African nation to reach the semi-finals.
Scaloni's Favorites for the Title
Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni previously named Portugal among the ten favorites to win the 2026 World Cup, alongside Brazil, France, Spain, England, and Argentina itself.
