Cristiano Ronaldo has been told that ‘football doesn’t need him’ at the 2026 World Cup, after the 40-year-old made his 217th appearance for Portugal on Thursday night
Cristiano Ronaldo has been told the 2026 World Cup doesn’t need him taking part in it.
And the Manchester United, Real Madrid and Portuguese legend has been urged to hang up his international boots – before he ruins his own legacy.
That’s the startling message from Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, who would like to see Ronaldo to ride off into the sunset, instead of targeting the World Cup next summer.
Hasselbaink told Gambling Zone: “Football doesn’t need Ronaldo at the 2026 World Cup. Ronaldo has been one of the best players for a long time; one of the best players in history.
“I think, at the moment, he’s doing himself more harm than good to be playing for Portugal still – it’s impacting his legacy. And if you ask me, (Lionel) Messi or Ronaldo, I will always say Ronaldo because of what he had to do to get to that level and to stay there.
“We all know as footballers, and I know this really, really well from my playing time, there’s a time when you come and there’s a time where you need to go. I think his time had come a while ago, and he needs to give somebody else the opportunity.”
The 40-year-old made his 217th appearance for Portugal on Thursday night in the Nations League defeat to Denmark. It appeared after Portugal’s exit to Morocco at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and him failing score at Euro 2024, that we may have seen the last of Ronaldo on the biggest stage for Portugal.
However, the Al-Nassr forward scored five goals in five Nations League A games last year, and has 28 goals in 33 games in all competitions for the Saudi side so far this season.