2026 World Cup: William Gallas warns Cristiano Ronaldo against a final disappointment
The former defender, William Gallas, has issued a warning to Cristiano Ronaldo, advising him to temper his ambitions of winning the 2026 World Cup, lest he end his career on a profound disillusionment.
Cristiano Ronaldo sous le maillot du Portugal @AFP
While Cristiano Ronaldo recently claimed that winning the World Cup remains one of his major goals, William Gallas believes this dream could well “end in tears.” At 40 years old, the captain of the Portuguese national team has extended his journey with Al-Nassr until 2027, while declining offers to participate in the 2025 Club World Cup, preferring to focus on his preparation for the global event in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner recently shone in the UEFA Nations League 2024-2025, scoring eight goals and providing a decisive pass in nine matches. But for Gallas, these performances do not guarantee a World Cup triumph.
“Cristiano Ronaldo will be present at the next summer’s World Cup, and it will certainly be a highly emotional moment,” the former French international told Prime Casino, quoted by Goal.
“He might not be a starter anymore, but he can still make a difference coming off the bench. Portugal has a beautiful team, but winning the World Cup will be incredibly difficult. This dream risks ending in tears,” he added.
It should be noted that a World Cup victory is the only major trophy still missing from the Madeira native’s trophy cabinet, who has already won Euro 2016 and the 2019 Nations League with the Seleção.