There is a claim that Cristiano Ronaldo will have two targets at the 2026 World Cup: to score at least one goal and to win the tournament. Softfootball believes this is not necessary, as Ronaldo does not need the World Cup or a goal to prove himself.
Lionel Messi is a World Cup winner, we agree, but there are many great players who never won it. Paolo Maldini is one of the players who played the highest number of minutes in the World Cup without winning it. George Best and George Weah, both Ballon d’Or winners, could not even play in the World Cup because their countries did not qualify.
Olivier Giroud, a former Chelsea striker, won the World Cup without recording a shot on target. Kevin De Bruyne has played in the Premier League for years without winning Player of the Month at certain periods in his Manchester City career.
Steven Gerrard is a Premier League legend without winning the Premier League title. So waiting for Ronaldo to score a goal in the World Cup to validate him is the height of disrespect.
There was a World Cup trophy in Argentina before Messi, but there has never been one in Portugal before Ronaldo. Ronaldo has won the Premier League, La Liga, and the Champions League multiple times, which already proves his greatness.
He also dominated Serie A with Juventus. So waiting for just seven matches in a World Cup to validate a five-time Ballon d’Or winner and five-time Champions League winner is unnecessary and disrespectful.
