Former Chelsea and Arsenal defender William Gallas feels Cristiano Ronaldo can take inspiration from his Portugal teammate, Pepe, and play in the FIFA World Cup 2024. Pepe, 41, is included in Portugal’s Euro 2024 squad.
Ronaldo, 39, is still fit as a fiddle and has been consistently scoring goals at the top level. The talisman was in stellar form for Al Nassr in the Saudi Pro League 2023-24 season as he scored 35 goals and provided 11 assists in 31 appearances. Furthermore, he scored six goals and two assists in nine matches of the AFC Champions League.
Ronaldo is also delivering for the national team as he scored 10 goals in nine qualifying games as Portugal topped Group J ahead of Slovakia, Luxembourg, Iceland, Bosnia, and Liechtenstein in Euro 2024 qualifiers.
William Gallas said via the Goal, “I think he will. He will be 41 when the next World Cup comes around, but if you look at the shape that he’s in and the goals that he’s scoring, then I don’t see why he won’t be targeting that as well. Look at Pepe. He’s 41 and playing at this tournament… he will be the oldest ever player to appear at an European Championship.”
“Ronaldo will be looking at his inclusion and will think that he can do exactly the same thing. This tournament won’t be the last dance for him… his last dance will be at the World Cup in two year’s time.”
Ronaldo has made 207 appearances for Portugal and has found the back of the net on 128 occasions, which is the most for any International player.
On the other hand, former Czech Republic player Karel Poborsky feels Ronaldo might not have a great run at Euro.
He said on Czech News Agency via the Metro, “I have been saying for a long time that he will be one of their weakest links. The fans of both teams will go crazy for him, but at his age, he is not as good for building the game and pressing as his younger teammates. So, our team would rather him start. Hats off to him for what he has achieve… thanks to his enormous self-confidence. But you can’t stop age, he is 39.”
Portugal will begin their Euro 2024 campaign against the Czech Republic on Tuesday.
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