Manchester United midfielder says it would be fitting to lift the trophy “for everything Cristiano gave to football and the world”
Bruno Fernandes has outlined his ambition to help Cristiano Ronaldo end his international career by winning the 2026 World Cup, describing it as the ultimate reward for the forward’s impact on the game.
The Manchester United captain is targeting the tournament as a defining moment for Portugal, with Ronaldo expected to be approaching his final major competition at the age of 41. Despite his huge trophy haul the World Cup remains the one major honour missing from Ronaldo’s career.
“I will try my best to make my country proud,” Fernandes said in a BBC interview with Wayne Rooney. “Wrapping up this last World Cup with Cristiano, winning it would be something amazing. I really hope we can make it happen, not just for Portugal, but for everything Cristiano gave to football and the world.”
Ronaldo continues to play a central role for Portugal under manager Roberto Martinez. The Al-Nassr forward remains the all-time leading scorer in international football with 143 goals, and Martinez has pointed to his mentality as key to his continued presence at the top level.
The Portugal coach said: “I always thought it was the body that retires a player, but it’s the head. Cristiano’s head hasn’t taken that decision at 40, 41. An elite player is not the talent, it’s the mentality, the resilience.”
