From Madeira to the last dance: How Ronaldo’s final World Cup inspires dreamers

KUALA LUMPUR: Cristiano Ronaldo has won almost everything there is to win in football.

The goals, the trophies, the fame, the fortune, the Ballons d’Or, the adoration from millions, he has ticked nearly every box in a glittering career that transformed him into a global sporting icon.

But there is still one thing missing from his collection.

The World Cup.

At 41, Ronaldo knows the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico will be his final chance to win the one trophy that could complete his story.

For all his achievements, comparisons with Lionel Messi will never go away.

Messi lifted the World Cup with Argentina in 2022 and, for many fans, that was enough to settle the greatest-of-all-time debate.

Now Ronaldo has one last chance to answer back.

Known around the world as CR7, the Portuguese captain will head into his sixth World Cup as one of the oldest players in the tournament.

But anyone who has followed his career knows writing him off is dangerous.

Even at this age, Ronaldo still trains with the intensity of a young player trying to make a name for himself.

His discipline, fitness and commitment remain unmatched.

The same habits people once mocked are the reason he is still competing while many of his former rivals have already retired.

EA Sports have predicted Portugal to win the 2026 World Cup through their simulations.

It may just be a game prediction, but fans will cling to any sign that Ronaldo’s dream can still come true.

Of course, time has changed him.

The explosive pace is not quite what it used to be.

He no longer glides past defenders the way he once did, and there are moments when the game moves just a bit too quickly.

There is also another side to it. Ronaldo still carries the mindset of someone who believes he can decide everything on his own, and that self-belief has always been part of his greatness.

But football has moved on, and there have been games, for club and country, where that approach hasn’t always brought the best out of the team.

That does not erase what he is. It just changes what he needs to be

He remains a threat, though.

He has scored 973 career goals and is only 27 away from the incredible 1,000-goal mark.

His career speaks for itself.

He won the Premier League with Manchester United, the Champions League and La Liga titles with Real Madrid, Serie A with Juventus, and added more silverware in Saudi Arabia with Al-Nassr.

With Portugal, he helped deliver the country’s greatest football moments by winning Euro 2016 and two Nations League titles.

Still, the World Cup remains the missing piece.

That is why next year feels so important.

This is more than just another tournament for Ronaldo.

It is about legacy.

People admire Messi for his natural genius.

Watching him play often feels effortless, as though he was simply born to see football differently from everyone else.

Ronaldo’s story is different.

He inspires people because he shows what hard work, sacrifice and self-belief can achieve.

A skinny kid from Madeira worked his way to the very top of world football and stayed there for more than 20 years.

That journey is why so many young players still look up to him today.

For many fans, Ronaldo is living proof that dreams are possible no matter where you come from, even from a small village or kampung far away from football’s biggest stages.

Now, one final challenge remains.

And if Ronaldo somehow lifts the World Cup in 2026, it could be the perfect ending to one of football’s greatest stories.

© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd

المصدر: New Straits Times