In the second part of his interview with journalist Piers Morgan, Cristiano Ronaldo continued to reveal details about his career and upcoming challenges. One of these is winning the 2026 Mundial, although the Portuguese star questioned whether winning that title alone makes you the best.
This Thursday, the second part of Cristiano Ronaldo’s interview with British journalist Piers Morgan was released. The Portuguese star opened up about the World Cup, Portugal’s chances, and his legacy in football.
“I haven’t thought about it. Winning the Mundial? It’s not a dream. Winning it won’t change my standing in football. You have to enjoy the present… When you compete, you want to win”, he said.
Ronaldo also clarified his stance on whether winning the trophy defines greatness: “I don’t care about being number one. We’ve won three titles with Portugal. I’m grateful, happy. We’ll fight to win the Mundial, but being the best just because of it? For six games… it’s not fair.”
Still, he admitted that lifting the trophy would be something historic for Portugal: “I’ve won three major titles with Portugal. How many World Cups did Argentina win before Messi? I think two. They’re used to winning big tournaments — no one will be surprised if Brazil wins the Mundial. But if Portugal wins it, it would surprise the world.”
In the interview, Cristiano also mentioned figures like David Beckham, whom he called “a father figure”, and Donald Trump, whom he hopes to meet one day “to sit down and have a good chat” about “something we have in common”, without revealing what that is.
He also defended his numbers and the Saudi Pro League: “Excuses, year after year. Last season I scored 25 goals. If I played in a top Premier League team, I’d score the same… The numbers don’t lie. The Saudi League is better than the Portuguese league, the French league. Look at all the good players who are there. For me, it’s easier to score in Spain than in Saudi Arabia.”
“I’ve always been a great finisher. Now I focus more on that because of my age, which makes you lose some things and improve others. I focus on staying mentally sharp and fresh. I adapt. After 25 years, I’ve always been the same kind of goalscorer,” he added.
About Wayne Rooney’s comment that Messi is better, Cristiano was calm: “There’s no problem. It’s fine for me. You can choose whoever you want. I can’t pick one coach from my career. I’ve been lucky with the managers I’ve had, but naming one wouldn’t be fair. They all helped Cristiano become who he is today.”
Cristiano also remembered his teammate Diogo Jota, who died in July in a car accident, describing him as “a very good guy, calm and a good player.” “When I saw the message, I couldn’t believe it. I cried a lot,” he recalled. He was at the gym with Georgina Rodríguez when he heard the news. “It was a very, very difficult moment — for the country, for the family, for friends, for teammates.”
Ronaldo explained that he spoke to the family privately but didn’t attend the funeral for two reasons: “First, since my father’s death I haven’t set foot in a cemetery. And second, wherever I go, it’s a circus.”
“I didn’t go because if I did, all the attention would be on me — and I don’t want that kind of attention,” he said. “I felt good about the decision I made. I did it thinking about the family. I don’t need to be in front of cameras for people to know what I do. I do things behind them.”