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Portugal’s football icon Cristiano Ronaldo has downplayed the importance of winning a FIFA World Cup, insisting that his legacy does not depend on the only major trophy missing from his illustrious career.
The 40-year-old forward, who already holds the record for most goals in men’s international football (143) and an astonishing 952 career goals overall, believes his greatness cannot be judged on a single tournament.
Speaking in an upcoming interview with Piers Morgan, the Al Nassr and Portugal captain said the World Cup is not something he views as a lifelong dream.
“If you ask me, Cristiano, is it a dream to win the World Cup? No, it’s not a dream,” Ronaldo said in a teaser clip released ahead of the full interview.
Ronaldo questioned the logic of defining a footballer’s entire legacy based on one event that spans just a handful of matches.
“To define if I’m one of the best in history, you think it’s fair to depend on one competition of six or seven games?” he asked rhetorically.
The five-time Ballon d’Or and Champions League winner’s comments come amid ongoing comparisons with Lionel Messi, who famously described Argentina’s 2022 World Cup triumph as “the dream of my life.”
Ronaldo, however, made it clear he disagrees with being measured by that standard.
“Is Messi better than me? I disagree. I don’t want to be humble,” he stated.
Despite not lifting the World Cup, Ronaldo’s international career remains decorated.
He led Portugal to Euro 2016 glory, followed by the inaugural UEFA Nations League title in 2019, and another triumph in the same competition this summer.
He is also the only player to feature in six European Championships and holds the record for most goals (14) in the tournament’s history.
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