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As the excitement builds for the 2026 World Cup, Portugal’s coach has stated that Cristiano Ronaldo could still be playing at the 2030 World Cup when he would be 45 years old.

In Palangka Raya, Central Kalimantan, Argentina fans voiced their concern, calling Portugal a formidable opponent for Lionel Messi and his teammates.

They noted that Portugal boasts several world-class players such as Joao Felix, Bruno Fernandes, Vitinha, Bernardo Silva, and of course, Cristiano Ronaldo.

Portugal’s elite squad is expected to be a major hurdle for Argentina as they aim to defend their title and win back-to-back World Cups in 2026.

Led by Lionel Messi, the Argentine team will attempt to achieve a historic consecutive championship record.

Sastra Wijaya Kalontong, an Argentina supporter from Central Kalimantan, mentioned three nations that could pose serious challenges for La Albiceleste in the upcoming tournament.

“The three teams that will be tough opponents for Argentina in the 2026 World Cup are Portugal, France, and Spain,” he said.

Nevertheless, Sastra Wijaya expressed confidence in Lionel Scaloni’s leadership and the strength of Argentina’s current squad.

“Under coach Lionel Scaloni, Argentina has maintained a solid identity, discipline, and a champion’s mentality,” he explained.

“This team no longer depends solely on one player but relies on collective effort, inter-line coordination, and improved squad depth.”

“Additionally, the presence of young talents injects fresh energy, allowing Argentina to remain competitive amid increasingly fierce global competition.”

Sastra Wijaya further stated that Argentina has a strong chance to win back-to-back World Cup titles in 2026 thanks to their experience and team cohesion.

“Besides Lionel Messi, two players who will shine at the 2026 World Cup are Lisandro Martinez and Julian Alvarez,” he added.

As a devoted fan, Sastra admitted that watching Messi’s final World Cup appearance will be an emotional experience.

“Of course, I feel proud to have witnessed the greatest player of all time (Lionel Messi) wearing the Albiceleste jersey, but also sad because such a glorious era will come to an end.”

“Every touch of the ball will feel more precious, every goal and assist will become a memory, and when the final whistle blows, it will feel like saying goodbye to a legend who made Argentina’s dreams come true,” he shared.

Football fans should not rule out the possibility of seeing Cristiano Ronaldo, aged 45, play in the 2030 World Cup, according to Portugal manager Roberto Martinez.

Martinez made the remark during an interview, praising Ronaldo’s dedication and longevity in football.

Cristiano Ronaldo, Portugal’s all-time top scorer with 226 appearances and 143 goals, is set to participate in his sixth World Cup — a record achievement.

“There is no reason to doubt that,” Martinez said when asked about Ronaldo’s chances of playing in the 2030 tournament. “He deserves it.”

Now 41, Cristiano Ronaldo has not yet announced his retirement plans. He remains the only male player to score in five different World Cups.

The star forward is currently under contract with Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr until 2027.

Portugal currently sits fifth in the FIFA world rankings and holds the sixth-best odds to win the 2026 World Cup.

They will host Chile in a friendly match on June 6 in Oeiras and face Nigeria in another friendly on June 10 in Leiria.

Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal will kick off their World Cup journey in Group K against the Democratic Republic of Congo on June 17 in Houston.

Ronaldo helped Portugal reach the quarter-finals of the 2022 World Cup. His best World Cup performance came in 2006, when Portugal advanced to the semi-finals and finished fourth.

“We, the coaching staff of Portugal, have reached the conclusion that Cristiano Ronaldo doesn’t play to chase specific titles — either collective or individual,” said Martinez.

“Cristiano isn’t defined by what he eats but by the hunger he possesses. Whatever he wins, the next day he wakes up with the same hunger to improve.”

Portugal Squad for the 2026 World Cup:

Goalkeepers:
Diogo Costa (FC Porto)
José Sá (Wolverhampton Wanderers)
Rui Silva (Sporting CP)
Ricardo Velho (Genclerbirligi Ankara)

Defenders:
Diogo Dalot (Manchester United)
Matheus Nunes (Manchester City)
Nélson Semedo (Fenerbahçe SK)
João Cancelo (FC Barcelona)
Nuno Mendes (PSG)
Gonçalo Inácio (Sporting CP)
Renato Veiga (Villarreal)
Rúben Dias (Manchester City)
Tomás Araújo (SL Benfica)

Midfielders:
Rúben Neves (Al Hilal)
Samuel Costa (Mallorca)
João Neves (PSG)
Vitinha (PSG)
Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United)
Bernardo Silva (Manchester City)

Forwards:
Joao Felix (Al Nassr)
Francisco Trincão (Sporting CP)
Francisco Conceição (Juventus)
Pedro Neto (Chelsea)
Rafael Leão (AC Milan)
Gonçalo Guedes (Real Sociedad)
Gonçalo Ramos (PSG)
Cristiano Ronaldo (Al Nassr)

Manager: Roberto Martínez

2026 World Cup Groups:

Group A:
Mexico
South Korea
South Africa
Czech Republic

Group B:
Canada
Switzerland
Qatar
Bosnia

Group C:
Brazil
Morocco
Scotland
Haiti

Group D:
United States
Australia
Paraguay
Turkey

Group E:
Germany
Ecuador
Ivory Coast
Curacao

Group F:
Netherlands
Japan
Tunisia
Sweden

Group G:
Belgium
Iran
Egypt
New Zealand

Group H:
Spain
Uruguay
Saudi Arabia
Cape Verde

Group I:
France
Senegal
Norway
Iraq

Group J:
Argentina
Austria
Algeria
Jordan

Group K:
Portugal
Colombia
Uzbekistan
DR Congo

Group L:
England
Croatia
Panama
Ghana