Fernandes Aims for World Cup Glory in Ronaldo’s Final Act

Portugal midfielder Bruno Fernandes has expressed his desire to crown Cristiano Ronaldo’s legendary career with the one trophy that has eluded him: the FIFA World Cup.

In a conversation with Wayne Rooney for the BBC, the Manchester United captain emphasized that winning the 2026 World Cup would be the ultimate tribute to Ronaldo’s contributions to the sport. "Wrapping up this last World Cup with Cristiano winning it would be amazing," Fernandes said. "I hope we can make it happen, not just for Portugal, but for everything he has given to football."

At 41, Cristiano Ronaldo is set to make history this June by appearing in his record sixth World Cup. While he led Portugal to victory in Euro 2016 and two Nations League titles, the World Cup remains the final frontier for international football’s all-time leading scorer (143 goals).

Portugal finds themselves in Group K for the tournament, which will be co-hosted by Canada, the United States, and Mexico from June 11 to July 19. Their schedule is as follows:

June 17: vs. DR Congo (Houston)

June 23: vs. Uzbekistan (Houston)

June 27: vs. Colombia (Miami)

For Ronaldo, this tournament represents the final chapter of a professional journey that has spanned over two decades and redefined modern football.