Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc has made a claim about Cristiano Ronaldo ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup to be held in the U.S, Mexico, and Canada in the summer.
Cristiano Ronaldo is expected to play a major role for Portugal at the prestigious summer tournament. Despite being 41 years old, Ronaldo has been a consistent starter for the Selecao under current head coach Roberto Martinez.
F1 racer Charles Leclerc was speaking to the media before the Montreal Grand Prix, when asked who he’d be supporting for the 2026 World Cup, he said (via beIN SPORTS on Instagram):
“I’m the worst person you can ask this question to…I don’t really follow football that much. I mean, the first memories I have from football were me playing it, and it is not a good memory.
“But I really enjoy watching good games, so I’ll definitely be watching. I’m disappointed Italy is not a part of the World Cup this year. I’ll be looking at friends, it would be cool if Ronaldo can win with Portugal before stopping, so I will follow that.”
The upcoming World Cup is expected to be Ronaldo’s last major tournament for his country, as he’d be 43 when the next major international event rolls around. In a recent interview, he admitted that he’d look to retire in 1-2 years. He said (via ESPN):
“Let’s be honest, when I mean soon I mean probably one, two years.
“I’m enjoying the moment. But when I mean soon, it’s really soon, because I give everything for football. I’m in the game for the last 25 years, I did everything.”
Cristiano Ronaldo is the all-time top goal scorer, has won multiple titles across various leagues, won 5 UEFA Champions League titles, and 5 Ballon d’Ors. A World Cup triumph would be a feather in his cap that would cement his legacy among the greats of football.
Former Portugal star details Cristiano Ronaldo’s impact in the World Cup squad
Former Selecao star Ricardo Quaresma believes Portugal will be extra motivated to win the World Cup because of Cristiano Ronaldo’s presence in the squad. Speaking during the unveiling of Portugal’s new kit, Quaresma said (via Daily Mail):
“They won the Nations League, so that’s what I’m saying. We have more will to win because Cristiano is there. It’s his last World Cup and they want Cristiano to win that title. The expectation is high, it’s very high, because they have quality for that, because if they didn’t have it, we wouldn’t have had that whole expectation.”
Portugal are in Group K in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. They will play against DR Congo, Uzbekistan, and Colombia in their group stage fixtures.
Edited by Vignesh Raja
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