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

[Sithara007]

I disagree. Cristiano Ronaldo is still impressive considering his age but I don't think he would score many goals in the other leagues such as Italian, German and French, for example. Many defenders in the Saudi League are a joke, they don't know how to defend, in Europe is different because even a defender from a random Portuguese team is probably better than a Saudi defender. Sure, they also have some foreign players who are great defenders but in general they focus more on buying strikers and offensive players rather than defenders.

I don't think you have ever watched matches in the Saudi Professional League. The SPL has some of the best defenders in the world, such as Andrei Girotto, Saeed Al-Rubaie, Koray Günter and Iñigo Martínez. The local (Saudi) players haven't yet reached the same level as the overseas players, but they are also constantly improving. Now your question is whether Cristiano Ronaldo will return the same performance if he players in Europe. Fine. Look at the UEFA Qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. He was the top-scorer in Group F. And this is despite the fact that he missed the match against Armenia, which they won by 9-1.

[8rch7]

I don't think you have ever watched matches in the Saudi Professional League. The SPL has some of the best defenders in the world, such as Andrei Girotto, Saeed Al-Rubaie, Koray Günter and Iñigo Martínez. The local (Saudi) players haven't yet reached the same level as the overseas players, but they are also constantly improving. Now your question is whether Cristiano Ronaldo will return the same performance if he players in Europe. Fine. Look at the UEFA Qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. He was the top-scorer in Group F. And this is despite the fact that he missed the match against Armenia, which they won by 9-1.

You missed with João Cancelo as Al Hilal defender have much experienced with top European club and still get the national team calling for Portugal, I think Saudi Pro League signed many top players on the golden age difference with MLS League almost players retiring from national teams playing there. I think Saudi Pro League filled by many top players and most of them leaving the Europe club during still on the top perform not make SPL as retirement career.

Looks Cristiano Ronaldo performance with his national team become top scorer at UEFA Euro qualifier matches and keep consistent scoring the goals during UEFA Qualifier match for the World Cup 2026. Maybe our friend need to watch the SPL match how the goals processing not easily and all teams have the top Europe player in their teams.

[Scarlett_23]

CR7's time is clearly over, and his current form is no more than just playing, and is no longer capable of taking the team to the highest level. So the Portuguese national team needs to rely on younger players who are more realistic about performing better. Meanwhile, CR7 can be a leader and motivator for the team, which is very helpful for the team to perform at its best. But if CR7 suddenly performs better, I wouldn't be surprised, because maybe this last World Cup really motivated him and rekindled his fighting spirit, who knows.

If you take the very top level, then yes, but if you take the level below (or the level of half the teams that only got to the World Cup thanks to FIFA gifts), then Ronaldo is still in business. Well, in certain elements of the game, for example heading and choosing a position, he is probably still second to no one. Nobody is saying that he can single-handedly lead Portugal to the title (that doesn't work in modern football at all), but in decisive moments he can turn everything in Portugal's favor.

I don't agree with saying Ronaldo's era is over, because after all he contributed to his country being at the 2026 World Cup, but if you compare it to his youth then it's true that what he can do now is not as big as when he was younger.

He can still be an influential figure in the team, especially on the mentality of the players on the pitch. I think that's what Portugal needs right now. This is another thing that can be seen from Ronaldo besides his performance and for me it is still good.

Everyone has an attraction to a particular team. But what attracts people more than that is the magic of the feet of good players. Whether it is the previous Pele, Maradona, then the next players such as Messi, Rolando, Neymar or the recent Mbappe or Lamine Yamal, the magic of their feet displayed on the field fascinates football fans. Rolando's game also fascinates me.

This 41-year-old star is still physically fit and he plans to play in the 2026 World Cup. And he himself said that the 2026 World Cup will be his last World Cup. Rolando is the highest scorer in international football. By playing in the 2026 World Cup, he will participate in a total of six World Cups.

Although this Portugal star could not win the FIFA World Cup, he has no shortage of awards in his basket. He is the Euro 2016 champion, he won the UEFA Nations League 2019, he is also the top scorer in international football, and he has achieved many other awards in his career. So this star is respected by football fans.

[JeffBrad12]

 

A lot of people are actually very angry about this and the anger is definitely justified in my opinion. Because why would you agree to give this unfair advantage to the attackers? What is the point of a high line or offside trap anymore? Now a lot more teams are going to start to park the bus and also drop deeper quicker. And I think that might not result in more goals. That might just make the game more boring after one team is able to score one goal. Because after that they are most probably going to drop and maybe even Park The Bus.   

Yeah, it looks like this. IMO, this is just unnecessary change. Changing the offside rule will change nothing. It's just adding more difficulty to the linesman job to determine the offside. It's also drastically the way football team to ball with no more high line defensive. I believe all of football teams will use lowblocks. The striker like Haaland and Mbappe who have good pace can feast with this kind of offside.

[cande86]

You missed with João Cancelo as Al Hilal defender have much experienced with top European club and still get the national team calling for Portugal, I think Saudi Pro League signed many top players on the golden age difference with MLS League almost players retiring from national teams playing there. I think Saudi Pro League filled by many top players and most of them leaving the Europe club during still on the top perform not make SPL as retirement career.

Looks Cristiano Ronaldo performance with his national team become top scorer at UEFA Euro qualifier matches and keep consistent scoring the goals during UEFA Qualifier match for the World Cup 2026. Maybe our friend need to watch the SPL match how the goals processing not easily and all teams have the top Europe player in their teams.

Apparently João Cancelo will leave this year, there are rumours about him going to Inter Milan and honestly it doesn't seem too bad for them, Cancelo is a great player who can also be useful in the offensive phase so I think he's a really great purchase.
But i think, InterMilan really need it?

[verdinio]

You missed with João Cancelo as Al Hilal defender have much experienced with top European club and still get the national team calling for Portugal, I think Saudi Pro League signed many top players on the golden age difference with MLS League almost players retiring from national teams playing there. I think Saudi Pro League filled by many top players and most of them leaving the Europe club during still on the top perform not make SPL as retirement career.

Looks Cristiano Ronaldo performance with his national team become top scorer at UEFA Euro qualifier matches and keep consistent scoring the goals during UEFA Qualifier match for the World Cup 2026. Maybe our friend need to watch the SPL match how the goals processing not easily and all teams have the top Europe player in their teams.

João Cancelo is certainly a great player who can make a great contribution to the national team, these teams will certainly not do without him to play in the World Cup, and i also think that they are certainly teams that can go very far, Portugal is very strong in my oipinion

[martinom]

He would break the record because of the league he is playing in. Let's not delude ourselves, he no longer has the quality. The zeal and experience is there but age has taken most of his quality away.
I don't think he should be a starter in the world cup. There are other players that may not be more experienced than him, but they're stronger and younger and they can fill that spot better. Even if he starts, he shouldn't play the full 90 minutes. Ronaldo might be the most dangerous player in the box, but if it's against a team that is good, his team might at a disadvantage because he won't be able to join the build up play.
Currently, Ronaldo is the kind of payer that you bring in when you need a winning or equalising goal and your team is pressing to score. But he's not a player that can play the full 90 minutes at top level in an elite competitive match.

I think that no team with a sane coach would ever get rid of Cristiano Ronaldo even when he is 40 years old. Let's say that the years go by but he always remains the one who can win matches thanks to his charisma. No one has ever been so influential in finals like him, and having him against us will not be easy for anyone.

[Alpha Marine]

Yeah, it looks like this. IMO, this is just unnecessary change. Changing the offside rule will change nothing. It's just adding more difficulty to the linesman job to determine the offside. It's also drastically the way football team to ball with no more high line defensive. I believe all of football teams will use lowblocks. The striker like Haaland and Mbappe who have good pace can feast with this kind of offside.

I doubt the rule will be enforced, but with FIFA, these days, you can never really tell.
The rule is such a disadvantage for defenders. Defenders are already at a disadvantage becaeu they can't be rough against the strikers. If the defenders fouls a striker in the box, its a penalty, but if the striker fouls the defender, it's not a foul, now adding this rule further makes their job more difficult. It shouldn't be enforced.

Defenders should be protected a bit too. Football is not all about scoring goals, but defending is also part of football. The can't keep making rules that are disadvantages to the defenders but advantages to the strikers simply because we want to see more goals and have interesting games. The Linesmen and VAR should continue to point out offsides the way it is. These new rules are not necessary at all.

[snipie]

Defenders should be protected a bit too. Football is not all about scoring goals, but defending is also part of football. The can't keep making rules that are disadvantages to the defenders but advantages to the strikers simply because we want to see more goals and have interesting games. The Linesmen and VAR should continue to point out offsides the way it is. These new rules are not necessary at all.

FIFA wants to see more goals in football matches actually because it makes these games more entertaining. Besides, more goals means more videos, more viewers, more profit. Football is one of the worst games in terms of goals scored in competitive and team based games.
Now the offside rules whether the current one or the previous ones are all questionable. They empty the game from its spirit and make the defenders less effective actually. It is not good to build the whole defence line to trick the opponent attackers on the offside rather than building a defencive strategy to stop them..

[Jewan420]

I think that no team with a sane coach would ever get rid of Cristiano Ronaldo even when he is 40 years old. Let's say that the years go by but he always remains the one who can win matches thanks to his charisma. No one has ever been so influential in finals like him, and having him against us will not be easy for anyone.

In football, experience is useful off the field, strength and quality are more useful on the field. Ronaldo's age does not speak in his favor, his experience is very useful for the team but his strength can push the team to further defeat. That's why I don't want to see him in the starting eleven in important matches like the World Cup. I want to see a worthy replacement who is young and very strong. I want to see him in the team in times of pressure, because his experience will be very useful under pressure. Portugal now has some young players who have the hunger for goals and the ability to run all the time.

[retreat]

I think that now he is only preparing to play the World Cup and i think that the level and quality is still there and is also very high, never underestimate Cristiano Ronaldo when it comes to breaking records and winning again and again, i think he can do it

That's not to underestimate it, but to be realistic, the CR7 is old and its performance is not what it used to be. Maybe he is able to score 1, 2, or more goals against less competitive teams, but for a competitive team like Spain - where their players are also generally young - it is possible that CR7 will experience some difficulties. Well, I am one of the people who admires CR7, but I also believe in recognizing reality, and we need to accept the fact that the goat has its time, and at this world cup moment he will only be the leader, not a sharp attacking player.

[Sithara007]

You missed with João Cancelo as Al Hilal defender have much experienced with top European club and still get the national team calling for Portugal, I think Saudi Pro League signed many top players on the golden age difference with MLS League almost players retiring from national teams playing there. I think Saudi Pro League filled by many top players and most of them leaving the Europe club during still on the top perform not make SPL as retirement career.

Looks Cristiano Ronaldo performance with his national team become top scorer at UEFA Euro qualifier matches and keep consistent scoring the goals during UEFA Qualifier match for the World Cup 2026. Maybe our friend need to watch the SPL match how the goals processing not easily and all teams have the top Europe player in their teams.

I intentionally omitted João Cancelo from the list. Al Hilal has played 11 matches in the Saudi Professional League so far. And he hasn't featured in any of these matches. I am not sure what happened. Maybe he is injured, or he has been called up to the Portuguese national team preparatory camps. At the same time, he has represented them in the matches for the AFC Champions League. I agree with you on the second part. Major League Soccer (MLS) mostly attracts players who are near retirement. But the Saudi Professional League has reversed this trend, and is now attracting a lot of young players from all over the world (including Europe).

[Alpha Marine]

FIFA wants to see more goals in football matches actually because it makes these games more entertaining. Besides, more goals means more videos, more viewers, more profit. Football is one of the worst games in terms of goals scored in competitive and team based games.

If they want to make the game more competitive and interesting, there are things they need to do, not by having goals scored in games. They need to focus on the grassroots. If more quality academy players across the globe graduate and join professional teams, they will improve the level of the game. More quality players.

It is not good to build the whole defence line to trick the opponent attackers on the offside rather than building a defencive strategy to stop them..

You cannot decide how a team plays their football. We have seen teams that park the bus with 9 players and try to stop the opponent from scoring. So why should another team that pushes their defence line very high and sets offside traps be a problem? It's a risk they're willing to take, and they feel they can take advantage of it.
Teams should be allowed to play however they want to play as long as it's within the rules.
That high defence line and offside trap is their defensive strategy. When the opponents are always far away from the box, it's not easy for them to score.

[GiftedMAN]

I think that now he is only preparing to play the World Cup and i think that the level and quality is still there and is also very high, never underestimate Cristiano Ronaldo when it comes to breaking records and winning again and again, i think he can do it

That's not to underestimate it, but to be realistic, the CR7 is old and its performance is not what it used to be. Maybe he is able to score 1, 2, or more goals against less competitive teams, but for a competitive team like Spain - where their players are also generally young - it is possible that CR7 will experience some difficulties. Well, I am one of the people who admires CR7, but I also believe in recognizing reality, and we need to accept the fact that the goat has its time, and at this world cup moment he will only be the leader, not a sharp attacking player.

Cristiano Ronaldo might not be as agile and athletic as he used to be 10 years ago, but when it comes to scoring, he's got the experience to position himself enough in the right places to score against the biggest teams in the world. His experience and intense desire to always fight for a win in any team he's playing for sets him apart from most of his peers and that's why you can't underestimate the Portuguese superstar.
I don't know if Portugal national team coach will always start him in their world cup games but what I know is that whenever he's on the pitch, he'll always be a big threat.

[Die_empty]

Cristiano Ronaldo might not be as agile and athletic as he used to be 10 years ago, but when it comes to scoring, he's got the experience to position himself enough in the right places to score against the biggest teams in the world. His experience and intense desire to always fight for a win in any team he's playing for sets him apart from most of his peers and that's why you can't underestimate the Portuguese superstar.
I don't know if Portugal national team coach will always start him in their world cup games but what I know is that whenever he's on the pitch, he'll always be a big threat.

Players in his status should not expect to play full-time or in all the games. The World Cup is an intense competition that needs strength and agility. The Portuguese coach might want strikers to contribute to the midfield and defence, but players like Cristiano Ronaldo will not have the strength to play by such rules.

Roberto Martínez should include the  Al-Nassr FC striker in his World Cup squad, but Ronaldo should be willing to accept any condition he is given. He shouldn't put the coach under pressure with his outbursts if he is substituted or not included in games. His experience might be needed more outside the pitch. He could serve as an assistant to the coach and a motivation to the players.

[imamusma]

~~

Players in his status should not expect to play full-time or in all the games. The World Cup is an intense competition that needs strength and agility. The Portuguese coach might want strikers to contribute to the midfield and defence, but players like Cristiano Ronaldo will not have the strength to play by such rules.

Roberto Martínez should include the  Al-Nassr FC striker in his World Cup squad, but Ronaldo should be willing to accept any condition he is given. He shouldn't put the coach under pressure with his outbursts if he is substituted or not included in games. His experience might be needed more outside the pitch. He could serve as an assistant to the coach and a motivation to the players.

That's right, Ronaldo can't expect much if he gets a call-up to the Portuguese national team for the 2026 World Cup. I think Ronaldo realizes this, and the manager will certainly prioritize younger players as first-choice options. It's undeniable that Ronaldo influence in the dressing room can improve the team mentality and motivate other young players to perform better. However, the final decision depends on Ronaldo fitness, which is clear at the moment he is in good form and continues to consistently score goals for Al Nassr.

[verdinio]

That's not to underestimate it, but to be realistic, the CR7 is old and its performance is not what it used to be. Maybe he is able to score 1, 2, or more goals against less competitive teams, but for a competitive team like Spain - where their players are also generally young - it is possible that CR7 will experience some difficulties. Well, I am one of the people who admires CR7, but I also believe in recognizing reality, and we need to accept the fact that the goat has its time, and at this world cup moment he will only be the leader, not a sharp attacking player.

I don't feel like underestimating a player like that, he's too strong not to have an impact on the game both on and off the pitch. He's a player who, despite his age, is still very incisive and is going for the record of 1000 goals, there's no one like him.

[martinom]

In football, experience is useful off the field, strength and quality are more useful on the field. Ronaldo's age does not speak in his favor, his experience is very useful for the team but his strength can push the team to further defeat. That's why I don't want to see him in the starting eleven in important matches like the World Cup. I want to see a worthy replacement who is young and very strong. I want to see him in the team in times of pressure, because his experience will be very useful under pressure. Portugal now has some young players who have the hunger for goals and the ability to run all the time.

Age is definitely a factor that makes him feel the pressure, but not someone like him, so good and so prepared, even if he hasn't been playing in the top leagues lately I would say that he continues to score in a league that, although secondary, is always full of champions.

[giorgione]

Players in his status should not expect to play full-time or in all the games. The World Cup is an intense competition that needs strength and agility. The Portuguese coach might want strikers to contribute to the midfield and defence, but players like Cristiano Ronaldo will not have the strength to play by such rules.

Roberto Martínez should include the  Al-Nassr FC striker in his World Cup squad, but Ronaldo should be willing to accept any condition he is given. He shouldn't put the coach under pressure with his outbursts if he is substituted or not included in games. His experience might be needed more outside the pitch. He could serve as an assistant to the coach and a motivation to the players.

I think that a player like Cristiano Ronaldo is fundamental both on and off the pitch. It's clear that today he's no longer the boy he once was who could transform matches with goals, but in less important matches he can still have his say, è still the best ever

[Hanadawa]

-snip-

-snip-
Looks Cristiano Ronaldo performance with his national team become top scorer at UEFA Euro qualifier matches and keep consistent scoring the goals during UEFA Qualifier match for the World Cup 2026. Maybe our friend need to watch the SPL match how the goals processing not easily and all teams have the top Europe player in their teams.

Although most local defenders in the Saudi league aren't at the same level as defenders in Europe, with so many world-class defenders entering the SPL, even if they're past their prime, it's only a matter of time before the defenses in the Saudi league become as solid as those in Europe. A few years ago, I thought the Saudi league wasn't a top-tier league. But now, even some world-class players are playing in the Saudi league in their prime. I believe CR7's abilities are still worthy of being at the top level. I once read in an article that, at over 40 when he played in the World Cup, Ronaldo underwent a biological age test, and the results were shocking. According to several sources, CR7's current biological age is 29^[1]. And that's a prime age for a footballer. So, I think CR7 still has the capacity to be a mainstay in Portugal's starting XI at this year's World Cup.

[1] https://www.menshealth.com/uk/fitness/a64860523/cristiano-ronaldo-biological-age/