FIFA World Cup 2026 :Canada/Mexico/United States: Discussion Thread

[Leviathan.007]

Guys, after reading your comments, I also imagine that the performance of Cristiano Ronaldo and Messi will decrease, that's a fact, it's the law of nature.
What we don't know is how much their performance will drop...

Yes I do believe that age is a very important factor for playing football. However, the idea that football cannot be played if you are old is wrong. The game depends a lot on one's skill, fitness and mental strength. Currently, Messi is 35 years old and Ronaldo is 38 years old. In 2026 World Cup, Messi will be 39 years old and Ronaldo will be 42 years old. If they can maintain their performances at the club level and if they work on their fitness then I don't think age will be a hindrance for them in the upcoming World Cup. And Cristiano Ronaldo is always worried about his fitness and he takes good care of himself. So we can expect Messi and Ronaldo to win the World Cup together again in the next World Cup. 

An example of this...  LeBron James, he will be 39 years old at the end of this year, and incredible as it may seem, he is still considered one of the best players in the NBA. His athleticism and his genetics is something formidable, I have no doubt that LJ will still be able to play in the Olympics defending the USA (but i don't think that can happen)

Zlatan Ibrahimovic is 41 years old now but his fitness doesn't look like he is 41 now. At this age he got a call up to play for Sweden's national team. Age is just a number. Age does not affect the game if you maintain your fitness.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic is an exception. However, even regarding Ibrahimovic, he is still not fresh as his young days when he was under 30 obviously his performance is not the same as his young days but he still can play in a professional team and score goals as a forward, it depends on their style and physical power that's why we can't say there should be the same situation for Ronaldo and Messi at 41.

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[sana54210]

Zlatan Ibrahimovic is an exception. However, even regarding Ibrahimovic, he is still not fresh as his young days when he was under 30 obviously his performance is not the same as his young days but he still can play in a professional team and score goals as a forward, it depends on their style and physical power that's why we can't say there should be the same situation for Ronaldo and Messi at 41.

I still think that he is not just "not good as he used to be" but not good enough for anything at all. If I was the manager or owner of a club, I wouldn't even consider spending that much money on him, makes absolutely no sense at all. Him being a good player was a long gone thing and right now he is not that good, not even for Milan level at least.

He could go ahead and play in the Saudi league along with Ronaldo if he wants to, but I wouldn't put him on my team. He literally missed over half of the year with injury and Milan was still fine about paying him the highest salary, that never made any sense to me at all, it is a big waste of money and they could have bought some other player for it.

[rahmad2nd]

Kylian Mbappé has been appointed as the new captain of the French national team. I don’t really know how I feel about this appointment considering the fact that they’re other eligible candidates like Antoine Griezmann and Oliver Giroud who has been in the team for quiet a long time. But I also understand that its not just Coach’s decision. Players also have a voice on who should lead them. He has been phenomenal for France lately, but giving him the armband is too much even for him. I feel there  are other old and experience players in the team.

IMO, it doesn't matter who is the captain in a team. most importantly, he can be a good leader during match sessions and during training, both on the field and in the locker room. because, his role will be very central to his teammates. plus, takes responsibility for his teammates.

If Mbappe fulfills these requirements, then he deserves the title of captain. but if we refer to Mbappe's attitude, it seems that he is not fit to be the leader of a team. and I agree with what you said, that Antonio Griezman who deserves to be the captain of the French national team. but usually, the appointment of a captain in a team is the responsibility of the coach. because he was given the trust to be the team leader. perhaps, the appointment of captain to Mbappe was none other than his contribution during the Qatar 2022 world cup. that is why, Mbappe was appointed as the leader of the French national team. by the way, if that's the case. there is nothing wrong with that, maybe with him being appointed as team captain, his attitude and selfishness will change a lot. well, so we'll just take it from the positive value.

[Silberman]

The passion for football never goes down, but the fitness is the one that makes things work in favour of his passion. These players will keep up the fitness level high, but age really matters when the young players enter. Ronaldo can make tricks and his technical games, but to stand level to the young ones into the team will be hard for him. This is just an assumption, we don't know how young is his mind for the upcoming World Cup. As said playing for the clubs is different from playing for the nation. The legendary ones preparing the young ones for the world cup will be more interesting than their participation.

Nowadays age is mostly a psychological thing. Medical technology has advanced so much, and trainers are able to keep players away from wear and tear for extended durations. I have watched Ronaldo playing for Al Nassr in the Saudi Professional League recently. At no point I got an impression that he is getting aged. But the Portugal national team coach, as well as those in Manchester United used this excuse to mistreat him. In the end, he got fed up and decided to pack his bags and move to somewhere he is valued more.

What happens is that coaches and owners have failed to adapt to the new realities of training and medical science, in almost every sport we are seeing that athletes are performing at their peak for a longer period of time and they can slow down dramatically the rate at which they lose their skills with proper training and care, but coaches and owners are using previous data to try to pay less to their players or to discard them, and while it is true that no matter what a professional athlete does as at some point their skills will fade, we must recognize that older players can still give great performances.

[shogun47]

The passion for football never goes down, but the fitness is the one that makes things work in favour of his passion. These players will keep up the fitness level high, but age really matters when the young players enter. Ronaldo can make tricks and his technical games, but to stand level to the young ones into the team will be hard for him. This is just an assumption, we don't know how young is his mind for the upcoming World Cup. As said playing for the clubs is different from playing for the nation. The legendary ones preparing the young ones for the world cup will be more interesting than their participation.

Nowadays age is mostly a psychological thing. Medical technology has advanced so much, and trainers are able to keep players away from wear and tear for extended durations. I have watched Ronaldo playing for Al Nassr in the Saudi Professional League recently. At no point I got an impression that he is getting aged. But the Portugal national team coach, as well as those in Manchester United used this excuse to mistreat him. In the end, he got fed up and decided to pack his bags and move to somewhere he is valued more.

What happens is that coaches and owners have failed to adapt to the new realities of training and medical science, in almost every sport we are seeing that athletes are performing at their peak for a longer period of time and they can slow down dramatically the rate at which they lose their skills with proper training and care, but coaches and owners are using previous data to try to pay less to their players or to discard them, and while it is true that no matter what a professional athlete does as at some point their skills will fade, we must recognize that older players can still give great performances.

Yes but as much as it makes sense to speak about those who are getting older and older and are still playing, they also get a lot younger when they start into their professional career.

But I dislike the general discussion about a player only being among the best in the world when he won the World Cup. What if Messi retreated because of an injury at ager 34? Would that have made him worse player? He just won the title at age 35.

At the same time what are the chances that Haaland is ever going to win a World Cup title? It's also a lot of luck whether you are French these days or Norwegian. Let's assume Mbappe and Haaland ever meet in a huge final with their national teams, I think Haaland bringing his team into the final would be worth more than Mbappe taking France into a final.

Regarding the next World Cup I wonder if we are going to see Messi/ and or Ronaldo participate. Both haven't retreated yet from their national teams and Messi would be 38 by then, which isn't impossible to still play as we have seen a couple of times. Messi is already holding the world record with 26 appearances if front of Matthäus with 25. I think Messi is going to try and go for it and extend it even further.

[rdluffy]

I think that has been talked about, in a way that we assumed it would be mainly young kids though. Because if you are already 30 years old or something then even when you played in world cup, and even if you play very well, that doesn't change the fact that you won't be really considered for a big club.

However, if you end up playing at 22 years or something like that, basically under 25 years old is fine, and you play amazingly in any world cup, that should be getting attentions from some big clubs and you could become a star. Sometimes that's all it takes, I believe that we should be able to see some players in right situations and they suddenly shine bigger.

Sorry if I didn't express myself well, but what I most want to say with my post is that basically with more teams participating in the 2026 Cup, there are many more chances for great players to participate, regardless of their age.
There are some teams that have 1 or 2 exceptional players, who are successful in their clubs, are among the best in the world, but their teammates don't have the same level and can't qualify for the world cup.

I have other examples like Salah / Egypt, Alexis Sanchez and Vidal / Chile, all of whom did not play in 2022, and for sure many people would have liked to see them play in the world cup.
This is a strong point of the increase of teams for 2026.

And I go a little further than I am talking about, but on the same subject.
I have been thinking, and I believe that we will have 6 new teams that have never played a world cup, that will be present in 2026.
It is a little early to think exactly which teams they will be, but this year we can already have an idea.
Soon I will make a table to try to identify and predict who these teams will be hehehe.

[nullama]

~snip~
Sorry if I didn't express myself well, but what I most want to say with my post is that basically with more teams participating in the 2026 Cup, there are many more chances for great players to participate, regardless of their age.
There are some teams that have 1 or 2 exceptional players, who are successful in their clubs, are among the best in the world, but their teammates don't have the same level and can't qualify for the world cup.

I have other examples like Salah / Egypt, Alexis Sanchez and Vidal / Chile, all of whom did not play in 2022, and for sure many people would have liked to see them play in the world cup.
This is a strong point of the increase of teams for 2026.

And I go a little further than I am talking about, but on the same subject.
I have been thinking, and I believe that we will have 6 new teams that have never played a world cup, that will be present in 2026.
It is a little early to think exactly which teams they will be, but this year we can already have an idea.
Soon I will make a table to try to identify and predict who these teams will be hehehe.

Alexis Sanchez is already 34 years old, and Arturo Vidal is 35. Might as well bring back Ivan Zamorano

[Leviathan.007]

~snip~
Sorry if I didn't express myself well, but what I most want to say with my post is that basically with more teams participating in the 2026 Cup, there are many more chances for great players to participate, regardless of their age.
There are some teams that have 1 or 2 exceptional players, who are successful in their clubs, are among the best in the world, but their teammates don't have the same level and can't qualify for the world cup.

I have other examples like Salah / Egypt, Alexis Sanchez and Vidal / Chile, all of whom did not play in 2022, and for sure many people would have liked to see them play in the world cup.
This is a strong point of the increase of teams for 2026.

And I go a little further than I am talking about, but on the same subject.
I have been thinking, and I believe that we will have 6 new teams that have never played a world cup, that will be present in 2026.
It is a little early to think exactly which teams they will be, but this year we can already have an idea.
Soon I will make a table to try to identify and predict who these teams will be hehehe.

Alexis Sanchez is already 34 years old, and Arturo Vidal is 35. Might as well bring back Ivan Zamorano

Regarding Alexis Sanchez and Chile, he scored two goals recently for Marseille in the French league and he performed very well but I'm sure after three years when the world cup started he can't even run with the same speed as he does right now, I think instead of being worry bout players like Sanchez and Vidal the teams should start working on young players and next generation to make them ready for the next world cup.

[Sithara007]

~~~
At the same time what are the chances that Haaland is ever going to win a World Cup title? It's also a lot of luck whether you are French these days or Norwegian. Let's assume Mbappe and Haaland ever meet in a huge final with their national teams, I think Haaland bringing his team into the final would be worth more than Mbappe taking France into a final.
~~~

I don't want Håland to become another Goran Pandeev. He is still young (22 years old) and hopefully with the increase in the number of participants for the 2026 World Cup, Norway will be able to participate in the tournament. BTW, he was born in Leeds, England. So technically he is eligible to represent England, if I am not wrong (not sure about his citizenship though, although it should not be a tough task for him to get a British passport). Jokes apart, I don't think that Håland is interested at least a little bit in moving out of Norway.

[CryptocurencyKing]

Kylian Mbappé has been appointed as the new captain of the French national team. I don’t really know how I feel about this appointment considering the fact that they’re other eligible candidates like Antoine Griezmann and Oliver Giroud who has been in the team for quiet a long time. But I also understand that its not just Coach’s decision. Players also have a voice on who should lead them. He has been phenomenal for France lately, but giving him the armband is too much even for him. I feel there  are other old and experience players in the team.

I think that he is the best player for France and it was thanks to him that France got to the penalties in the final against Argentina this last world cup as without him France would have probably not even a shot on goal on that game.Things have changed now and despite the old players being usually captains now there is a new trend which the captain usually becomes the best player of the team and I think France has made the right decision to appoint Mbappe as their captain.He surely is one of the most talented players in the world and he fully deserve this title despite his young age.

Yeah. That's mbappes team. It has been since he won that first world cup for the France national team. I’m not surprised they gave it to him. I remember what he did, how he displayed a leadership quality in the dressing room during the half time when France was loosing at the just concluded world Cup. Also looking at longevity, I think Mbappe as the captain has a lengthy time to play than the others so it’s a good reason to give him the Armband.

[Leviathan.007]

~~~
At the same time what are the chances that Haaland is ever going to win a World Cup title? It's also a lot of luck whether you are French these days or Norwegian. Let's assume Mbappe and Haaland ever meet in a huge final with their national teams, I think Haaland bringing his team into the final would be worth more than Mbappe taking France into a final.
~~~

I don't want Håland to become another Goran Pandeev. He is still young (22 years old) and hopefully with the increase in the number of participants for the 2026 World Cup, Norway will be able to participate in the tournament. BTW, he was born in Leeds, England. So technically he is eligible to represent England, if I am not wrong (not sure about his citizenship though, although it should not be a tough task for him to get a British passport). Jokes apart, I don't think that Håland is interested at least a little bit in moving out of Norway.

We cannot judge him because he is still 22 years old and too young to say what's going to happen to this player after years, Haaland is currently a citizen of Norway and if he didn't have the citizenship he couldn't play for the national team, he can achieve more goals in England if he were playing for England national team but as far as I know, he can't do that because he played for Norway in official games.

[swogerino]

~~~
At the same time what are the chances that Haaland is ever going to win a World Cup title? It's also a lot of luck whether you are French these days or Norwegian. Let's assume Mbappe and Haaland ever meet in a huge final with their national teams, I think Haaland bringing his team into the final would be worth more than Mbappe taking France into a final.
~~~

I don't want Håland to become another Goran Pandeev. He is still young (22 years old) and hopefully with the increase in the number of participants for the 2026 World Cup, Norway will be able to participate in the tournament. BTW, he was born in Leeds, England. So technically he is eligible to represent England, if I am not wrong (not sure about his citizenship though, although it should not be a tough task for him to get a British passport). Jokes apart, I don't think that Håland is interested at least a little bit in moving out of Norway.

We cannot judge him because he is still 22 years old and too young to say what's going to happen to this player after years, Haaland is currently a citizen of Norway and if he didn't have the citizenship he couldn't play for the national team, he can achieve more goals in England if he were playing for England national team but as far as I know, he can't do that because he played for Norway in official games.

He cannot do that,once a player is federated with a team he cannot leave it and go to another team.There have been specific cases but those do not apply here,for example when Albanian players originating from Kosovo have been playing for Albania and once Kosovo become and independent country in 2008 many players got to play with Kosovo,this was a specific clause because of such non natural event like a new born country in 2008.I am afraid Norway is a well established country and this move is not permitted under special conditions,we don't know though that if Haaland would score more goals with England.

[YinShuiSiYuan]

Kylian Mbappé has been appointed as the new captain of the French national team. I don’t really know how I feel about this appointment considering the fact that they’re other eligible candidates like Antoine Griezmann and Oliver Giroud who has been in the team for quiet a long time. But I also understand that its not just Coach’s decision. Players also have a voice on who should lead them. He has been phenomenal for France lately, but giving him the armband is too much even for him. I feel there  are other old and experience players in the team.

I think that he is the best player for France and it was thanks to him that France got to the penalties in the final against Argentina this last world cup as without him France would have probably not even a shot on goal on that game.Things have changed now and despite the old players being usually captains now there is a new trend which the captain usually becomes the best player of the team and I think France has made the right decision to appoint Mbappe as their captain.He surely is one of the most talented players in the world and he fully deserve this title despite his young age.

Yeah. That's mbappes team. It has been since he won that first world cup for the France national team. I’m not surprised they gave it to him. I remember what he did, how he displayed a leadership quality in the dressing room during the half time when France was loosing at the just concluded world Cup. Also looking at longevity, I think Mbappe as the captain has a lengthy time to play than the others so it’s a good reason to give him the Armband.

Mbappe performance in this world cup will be remembered for z long time as he fought like a single warrior for his team and scored goals plus penalties for France.  He definitely deserve this captaincy for his game and he'll surely bring more wins for his team.

[Zlantann]

Not sure whether Antoine Griezmann and Giroud are going to welcome this decision, but Mbappé completely deserves this. He was exceptional during Qatar 2022. And he represents the future for France. What is the point in making someone in their mid-30s the captain? In that case after a few years, again they need to search for the new captain. In case of Mbappé, he is already captaining a very high-quality side (Paris Saint-Germain F.C.). Captaining the French national team is not going to be too much of a challenge for him.

The leadership of team shouldn't be based on only skills or on the pitch performance. Leadership requires some outstanding qualities such as patience, courage, team playing and tolerance. I think Mbappe lacks most of these leadership skills. It is possible that he can learn on the job but for me he is not matured for the headship of the French team. Sometimes he behaves very childish and selfish.

But in terms of influence, Mbappe has it. The striker is one of the best players in the world.He could use his influence to intimidate match officials and make them favor the French team. But I hope other older player will be humble enough to respect him. There is a possibility that there might be division in the French team if he is not effective.

[Strongkored]

Kylian Mbappé has been appointed as the new captain of the French national team. I don’t really know how I feel about this appointment considering the fact that they’re other eligible candidates like Antoine Griezmann and Oliver Giroud who has been in the team for quiet a long time. But I also understand that its not just Coach’s decision. Players also have a voice on who should lead them. He has been phenomenal for France lately, but giving him the armband is too much even for him. I feel there  are other old and experience players in the team.

I think that he is the best player for France and it was thanks to him that France got to the penalties in the final against Argentina this last world cup as without him France would have probably not even a shot on goal on that game.Things have changed now and despite the old players being usually captains now there is a new trend which the captain usually becomes the best player of the team and I think France has made the right decision to appoint Mbappe as their captain.He surely is one of the most talented players in the world and he fully deserve this title despite his young age.

Considering how his struggles in the final were one of his outstanding performances, the second half he was a French player who still had the passion to catch up and he seemed to be playing himself at that time, it's a shame the penalty shootout didn't go well for France and they lost.
His age is still very young and it's rare to see young players captain the national team because the national team is a little different from the club where in the club because they often play games together, cohesiveness will be easily established but the national team isn't like that, it could be one of the considerations for choosing him instead not only because he is one of the best French players at the moment but also one of the most respected players in the French national team and has a strong influence so the captain's armband deserves for him.

[shogun47]

Kylian Mbappé has been appointed as the new captain of the French national team. I don’t really know how I feel about this appointment considering the fact that they’re other eligible candidates like Antoine Griezmann and Oliver Giroud who has been in the team for quiet a long time. But I also understand that its not just Coach’s decision. Players also have a voice on who should lead them. He has been phenomenal for France lately, but giving him the armband is too much even for him. I feel there  are other old and experience players in the team.

I think that he is the best player for France and it was thanks to him that France got to the penalties in the final against Argentina this last world cup as without him France would have probably not even a shot on goal on that game.Things have changed now and despite the old players being usually captains now there is a new trend which the captain usually becomes the best player of the team and I think France has made the right decision to appoint Mbappe as their captain.He surely is one of the most talented players in the world and he fully deserve this title despite his young age.

Considering how his struggles in the final were one of his outstanding performances, the second half he was a French player who still had the passion to catch up and he seemed to be playing himself at that time, it's a shame the penalty shootout didn't go well for France and they lost.
His age is still very young and it's rare to see young players captain the national team because the national team is a little different from the club where in the club because they often play games together, cohesiveness will be easily established but the national team isn't like that, it could be one of the considerations for choosing him instead not only because he is one of the best French players at the moment but also one of the most respected players in the French national team and has a strong influence so the captain's armband deserves for him.

What cohesiveness are you talking about when it comes to PSG? They are out of Coup de France, they are out of the Champions League, and they have a win rate in Ligue 1 of 75%, which sounds good but actually it isn't that overwhelming. With a squad that is worth more than 900 million USD, the win rate is actually pretty bad.

The French national team is strong and they are blessed with the best of the best on almost any position, but Argentina wanted this one even more. Argentina was better in every single statistic. I think that France might have been overconfident before and during the game and only when shit hit the fan did they realize that they need to work much harder for success.

Mbappe still has a long way to go and we might not even have seen the best Mbappe ever. But I doubt that PSG is the right place for him to develop even further.

[Leviathan.007]

Kylian Mbappé has been appointed as the new captain of the French national team. I don’t really know how I feel about this appointment considering the fact that they’re other eligible candidates like Antoine Griezmann and Oliver Giroud who has been in the team for quiet a long time. But I also understand that its not just Coach’s decision. Players also have a voice on who should lead them. He has been phenomenal for France lately, but giving him the armband is too much even for him. I feel there  are other old and experience players in the team.

I think that he is the best player for France and it was thanks to him that France got to the penalties in the final against Argentina this last world cup as without him France would have probably not even a shot on goal on that game.Things have changed now and despite the old players being usually captains now there is a new trend which the captain usually becomes the best player of the team and I think France has made the right decision to appoint Mbappe as their captain.He surely is one of the most talented players in the world and he fully deserve this title despite his young age.

Yeah. That's mbappes team. It has been since he won that first world cup for the France national team. I’m not surprised they gave it to him. I remember what he did, how he displayed a leadership quality in the dressing room during the half time when France was loosing at the just concluded world Cup. Also looking at longevity, I think Mbappe as the captain has a lengthy time to play than the others so it’s a good reason to give him the Armband.

Mbappe performance in this world cup will be remembered for z long time as he fought like a single warrior for his team and scored goals plus penalties for France.  He definitely deserve this captaincy for his game and he'll surely bring more wins for his team.

He had a good performance in the world cup's final match but I think Argentina was just better than his team, however, he did all he could do regardless of that he is still young and there is a long way ahead for him and his team France, I think in 2026 is can get more experienced and maybe this time he can get the title with his team.

[stadus]

Not sure whether Antoine Griezmann and Giroud are going to welcome this decision, but Mbappé completely deserves this. He was exceptional during Qatar 2022. And he represents the future for France. What is the point in making someone in their mid-30s the captain? In that case after a few years, again they need to search for the new captain. In case of Mbappé, he is already captaining a very high-quality side (Paris Saint-Germain F.C.). Captaining the French national team is not going to be too much of a challenge for him.

The leadership of team shouldn't be based on only skills or on the pitch performance. Leadership requires some outstanding qualities such as patience, courage, team playing and tolerance. I think Mbappe lacks most of these leadership skills. It is possible that he can learn on the job but for me he is not matured for the headship of the French team. Sometimes he behaves very childish and selfish.

But in terms of influence, Mbappe has it. The striker is one of the best players in the world.He could use his influence to intimidate match officials and make them favor the French team. But I hope other older player will be humble enough to respect him. There is a possibility that there might be division in the French team if he is not effective.

That's somehow expected because after all, Kylian Mbappé is still 24 years old and he's not yet on that phase where he will get matured, and will be ready to lead the team. He still needed more exposures from the games and with a proper guidance, step by step, he will be molded into a much better player that will have the characteristics of being a leader. These things can't be taught overnight, the team needs to believe in him first so that soon enough, Mbappe will be a full package kind of player.

[mm2543363580]

Not sure whether Antoine Griezmann and Giroud are going to welcome this decision, but Mbappé completely deserves this. He was exceptional during Qatar 2022. And he represents the future for France. What is the point in making someone in their mid-30s the captain? In that case after a few years, again they need to search for the new captain. In case of Mbappé, he is already captaining a very high-quality side (Paris Saint-Germain F.C.). Captaining the French national team is not going to be too much of a challenge for him.

The leadership of team shouldn't be based on only skills or on the pitch performance. Leadership requires some outstanding qualities such as patience, courage, team playing and tolerance. I think Mbappe lacks most of these leadership skills. It is possible that he can learn on the job but for me he is not matured for the headship of the French team. Sometimes he behaves very childish and selfish.

But in terms of influence, Mbappe has it. The striker is one of the best players in the world.He could use his influence to intimidate match officials and make them favor the French team. But I hope other older player will be humble enough to respect him. There is a possibility that there might be division in the French team if he is not effective.

That's somehow expected because after all, Kylian Mbappé is still 24 years old and he's not yet on that phase where he will get matured, and will be ready to lead the team. He still needed more exposures from the games and with a proper guidance, step by step, he will be molded into a much better player that will have the characteristics of being a leader. These things can't be taught overnight, the team needs to believe in him first so that soon enough, Mbappe will be a full package kind of player.

You got the point for leading a team it requires certain qualities of patience, maturity and composure and that comes with experience and age .
No one can question Mbappe performance he is exceptionally good player and his contribution for France is noticeable.  He'll definitely become good captain but with time   it's too early for this.

[freedomgo]

The passion for football never goes down, but the fitness is the one that makes things work in favour of his passion. These players will keep up the fitness level high, but age really matters when the young players enter. Ronaldo can make tricks and his technical games, but to stand level to the young ones into the team will be hard for him. This is just an assumption, we don't know how young is his mind for the upcoming World Cup. As said playing for the clubs is different from playing for the nation. The legendary ones preparing the young ones for the world cup will be more interesting than their participation.

Nowadays age is mostly a psychological thing. Medical technology has advanced so much, and trainers are able to keep players away from wear and tear for extended durations. I have watched Ronaldo playing for Al Nassr in the Saudi Professional League recently. At no point I got an impression that he is getting aged. But the Portugal national team coach, as well as those in Manchester United used this excuse to mistreat him. In the end, he got fed up and decided to pack his bags and move to somewhere he is valued more.

It's their loss and not Ronaldo's but if we look at it closely, Portugal also got themselves a vacancy to occupy another good and young player. I know Ronaldo can still make a lot of difference despite his age but in the long run, his career is already coming to an end and Al Nassr coincidentally gave him a chance to lead his own team with a good paycheck. Apart from that, Saudi with Greece and Egypt is looking forward to host the 2030 World Cup and it seems that Ronaldo will be a part of that, not for a player position but for something else.