'They want Cristiano to win that title,' Ronaldo's former teammate feels Portugal needs to do in 2026 what Argentina did for Messi in 2022
Ronaldo's former teammate Ricardo Quaresma feels that the Portugal team would have more collective motivation to win for Ronaldo, supported by a strong squad including Ruben Dias and Bruno Fernandes.
Last Updated: 10.06 PM, Mar 22, 2026
The "GOAT" debate in football will enter its final and most high-stakes chapter. As Cristiano Ronaldo gets ready for a record-breaking sixth FIFA World Cup at the age of 41, the portrayal has shifted from individual brilliance to a collective assignment. According to former teammate Ricardo Quaresma, the Portuguese locker room isn't just playing for a trophy this time; they are playing to ensure Ronaldo achieves "World Cup immortality" just like Messi did in 2022.
The "last dance" for CR7
With 226 appearances and 143 goals, Ronaldo’s international record is unparalleled, and it is probably that no one will ever touch his record.
He has conquered Europe (Euro 2016) and the Nations League, but the ultimate prize remains the only "itch" left to scratch and probably his final hurdle to become the greatest of all time.
After watching his greatest rival, Lionel Messi, lift the trophy in 2022 in Qatar, the purpose to match that achievement has become the focal point of Ronaldo’s final few years.
Quaresma: "The will to win is higher"
Speaking at a FIFA World Cup 2026 kit launch, Ricardo Quaresma, a former teammate of Ronaldo, emphasised that Ronaldo’s presence acts as a motivation for the younger generation of Portuguese footballers.
"It's his last World Cup, and they want Cristiano to win that title," Quaresma told the Daily Mail. "The expectation is high because they have the quality. If they didn't have it, we wouldn't have that expectation."
The current Portugal squad is one of the strongest ones, with the likes of Ruben Dias, Bruno Fernandes, and Vitinha. For them, delivering the trophy is seen as the "cherry on top of the cake" for a legend who has defined their footballing era.
Moreover, unlike this time, Ronaldo will not have to 'carry' his nation. It will be the reverse, with the squad they have now. With Premier League and Champions League winners in their squad, they can certainly be hopeful to hand Ronaldo a perfect end to a great career.
The "Kleberson perspective": The fairness of the trophy
Former Manchester United midfielder Kleberson commented on the internal psychological battle top players like Ronaldo face. When a player of his stature has something missing in their closet, that haunts them every day.
Although Ronaldo has five Ballons d’Or, the absence of a World Cup in his trophy cabinet remains a glaring void.
"The World Cup is sometimes fair, sometimes unfair," Kleberson noted.
"I believe those guys look at me and think, 'Oh my gosh, I can't believe Kleberson has a World Cup, and I haven't!'" It is this specific "unfairness" that Ronaldo is desperate to fix in North America.