The position of Al Nassr in the league is a precarious one. Currently, in second place, they are three points behind leaders Al-Ittihad, and with three games to go, the title is in doubt. Cristiano Ronaldo arrived with much fanfare after terminating his contract with Manchester United. Moreover, his signing for Al Nassr has not gone well with the supporters. Now, the prospects of a potential exit have increased. His soccer club career is in jeopardy of ending in a stalemate. But one thing is for sure. Everyone loves him in Portugal, including the national team’s new manager.
Former coach of Belgium, Roberto Martinez, joined the Portugal national team on January 9th. Doubts about integrating Ronaldo into the national team have been washed away as Martinez loves the legendary striker. He recently praised him for his commitment to the nation.
Roberto Martinez praises Cristiano Ronaldo for his service to the nation
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In a recent interview given to Altice Portugal, reported by TYC Sports, Martinez explained, “We shouldn’t decide based on what we think, it’s a mistake. When I got to the national team, I received a list of all the players, what they did, and their commitment. Cristiano Ronaldo gave 20 years of his career to the national team and he is the only player in the world of football who is close to 200 games international.”
Significantly, the star forward has made 198 appearances for his country. Moreover, he would probably be expected to make his 200th cap for Portugal in June. The games against Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Iceland, would be historical for the player. Hopefully, he can add to his already incredible number of goals. Martinez continued, “Cristiano was a fantastic captain, totally dedicated to the team.”
In 198 appearances, he has 122 goals and served up 43 assists. In addition to those staggering stats, Ronaldo won the UEFA Euro 2016, propelling his country to international success. But one trophy eludes him. The World Cup. Considering Lionel Messi achieved his dream last year in Qatar, it would be fitting for Ronaldo to win it in 2026.
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Get him to the 2026 FIFA World Cup!
By the time the 2026 World Cup appears, Ronaldo will be 41. But make no mistake about his fitness levels. He is a modern-day marvel, and the fitness of CR7 is second to none. Leaping high in the air is still prevalent in most games. Having consistently performed well for several years, it would be interesting to see Ronaldo lift the World Cup.
It would be a storied ending to his illustrious career, which has seen many ups and downs. It would be spectacular to watch him raise the Cup in front of numerous soccer fans. Do you think that dream would become a reality?
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