Former France international William Gallas has cautioned Cristiano Ronaldo to manage his expectations about winning a World Cup before retirement, warning that such ambitions could end in disappointment.
Ronaldo recently expressed his desire to win the 2026 FIFA World Cup, a trophy that has eluded him throughout his illustrious career. The Portuguese star opted out of participating in the ongoing FIFA Club World Cup to focus on preparation and recovery for the tournament in the USA.
The 40-year-old forward signed a new two-year contract with Saudi club Al-Nassr and helped Portugal clinch the 2024–25 UEFA Nations League, contributing eight goals and one assist in nine matches.
Despite Ronaldo’s continued dedication and form, Gallas believes the challenge of winning a World Cup at this stage of his career is monumental. Speaking to Prime Casino (via Goal), Gallas said:
“Cristiano Ronaldo will be at the World Cup next summer, and either way, it’ll be emotional.
He may not be able to start games anymore, but he can still come off the bench. Portugal look strong – but it’ll be incredibly hard for Ronaldo to fulfil his dream. It will probably end in tears.”
Although Ronaldo is likely to make the squad if he remains injury-free, Gallas emphasized the difficulty of achieving World Cup glory at his age and stage in the game.
The World Cup remains the only major title missing from Ronaldo’s collection, making it a personal target in what may be his final international tournament.
