Portugal’s midfielder Bruno Fernandes wants to lead the national team to World Cup glory. The Portuguese are yet to win their maiden World Cup title and their best result came when they qualified for the semifinals in the 1966 World Cup.

The Euro 2016 champions and 2025 Nations League winners are a force to reckon with and enter the World Cup as one of the favourites. Portugal is currently ranked fifth in the FIFA rankings and they would aim to go all the way.

Manchester United midfielder Fernandes told FIFA’s official website: “The dream is to be world champions.

“The key is to focus on what we can do to change the fact that Portugal have never won it and become the first side to bring the coveted World Cup back home.”

Fernandes said it is a privilege for them to have the services of a superstar like Cristiano Ronaldo in their team. Ronaldo, 41, is all set to take part in his sixth World Cup.

He said: “It’s a huge privilege for us to have Cristiano as a compatriot, a teammate and a player who can take us closer to winning the World Cup.

“I think we can always learn from him. He’s shown his resilience throughout his career. He has that winning mentality, he is never satisfied with what he’s achieved, and he always strives for more.

“Those are all such positive qualities we’ve taken from his career.”

Fernandes said Ronaldo’s longevity goes to show what is takes to savour success at the top level.

Fernandes said: “The fact he’s managed to play for 20 years shows that all of that was, and still is, necessary to perform at the highest level for so long. Those factors go hand in hand with the talent he’s shown over the years.

“More than anything, I hope he can replicate that with us at the World Cup, helping us as he’s always done, scoring more goals and taking us closer to our objective.”

Portugal will begin their World Cup campaign against DR Congo on Wednesday.