Cristiano Ronaldo has spent nearly two decades in a constant comparison with Lionel Messi, with fans debating everything from goals to trophies to the ultimate “GOAT” label. Ronaldo has already built a legendary international resume with Portugal, winning the UEFA European Championship and the UEFA Nations League. But there is one title that still sits outside his collection – the FIFA World Cup.
That is why former France defender Frank Leboeuf, a World Cup champion from 1998, says he is rooting for Ronaldo to have a memorable 2026. In Leboeuf’s view, the World Cup is the trophy that changes how history remembers even the most decorated stars – and he believes Ronaldo still has a realistic shot at it next summer.
Why the World Cup is still Ronaldo’s biggest missing trophy
Ronaldo’s club and individual achievements are already difficult to match. But in global football conversations, the World Cup often becomes the final separator at the very top.
Leboeuf’s point is simple: many great players win major honors, but winning a World Cup places a career into a different category. It becomes a defining headline, not just another medal. And because Messi lifted the trophy in 2022, Leboeuf believes the spotlight naturally shifts to whether Ronaldo can find his own World Cup chapter.
“Messi had 2022” – Leboeuf wants 2026 to be Ronaldo’s story
Leboeuf suggested that the 2022 tournament felt like it belonged to Messi, and he hopes 2026 delivers a similar “storybook” finish for Ronaldo. He sees it as something that would be meaningful on two levels: for Ronaldo personally and for Portugal as a nation.
Crucially, Leboeuf does not describe this as pure fantasy. He believes Portugal’s current talent level makes a deep run possible, and he argues that Ronaldo’s presence could still be decisive if he is used correctly.
Portugal’s big question: how Roberto Martinez manages Ronaldo’s role
Leboeuf also highlighted what may become Portugal coach Roberto Martinez’s toughest decision: how to balance Ronaldo’s status and influence with the physical demands of a World Cup.
The concern is not about Ronaldo’s career greatness. It’s about tournament rhythm. Playing every few days is brutal, and Portugal have already shown a willingness in recent competitions to consider rotating Ronaldo or using him differently depending on the match.
Leboeuf’s view is that the same scenario could appear again in 2026. If Portugal want to maximize their chances, they may need flexibility – picking the moments where Ronaldo’s finishing, leadership, and mentality add the most value, while still ensuring the team can handle the pace of the tournament.
Can Ronaldo still deliver at 41?
By the time World Cup 2026 arrives, Ronaldo will be 41. That number alone invites doubt, but it also creates the scale of the story.
Leboeuf believes Ronaldo can still keep himself in elite condition and maintain a level that helps Portugal win the biggest prize. If that happened, it would be one of the most remarkable late-career achievements modern football has seen – a superstar extending his impact far beyond the age most players decline.
For Ronaldo, it would also answer the one question that never goes away: can he win the trophy that defines eras?
What a Ronaldo World Cup title would mean for his legacy
Even if you believe the GOAT debate is subjective, the World Cup remains the trophy that shapes public memory. That is why this conversation keeps returning.
A World Cup win would not erase what Ronaldo has already done – it would add the final symbol that many fans still treat as the sport’s ultimate measuring stick. And for Portugal, it would be the crowning achievement of a golden generation built around one of the most famous athletes in the world.
Bottom line
Frank Leboeuf isn’t claiming World Cup 2026 will be easy for Portugal – he’s saying it feels possible, and that the storyline would be historic. Ronaldo has won almost everything available in football. The World Cup is the one prize still missing, and 2026 may be his clearest remaining opportunity to complete the set.
Blair Kensington is specialized in data-driven match context, tactical trends, and AI-assisted performance insights. With a focus on turning complex metrics into clear narratives, Blair covers major leagues and international competitions through the lens of probability, form cycles, and underlying numbers. His work helps readers understand why results happen, not just what happened.
