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Ronaldo’s Final Bid for World Cup Glory

Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo scores his side's second goal from the penalty spot during a World Cup 2026 group F qualifying match between Hungary and Portugal at the Puskas Arena in Budapest, Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2025. (AP)
Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo scores his side's second goal from the penalty spot during a World Cup 2026 group F qualifying match between Hungary and Portugal at the Puskas Arena in Budapest, Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2025. (AP)
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Ronaldo’s Final Bid for World Cup Glory

Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo scores his side's second goal from the penalty spot during a World Cup 2026 group F qualifying match between Hungary and Portugal at the Puskas Arena in Budapest, Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2025. (AP)
Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo scores his side's second goal from the penalty spot during a World Cup 2026 group F qualifying match between Hungary and Portugal at the Puskas Arena in Budapest, Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2025. (AP)

For some, Cristiano Ronaldo remains the essential spearhead for Portugal's 2026 World Cup bid, while others believe his presence will prevent Roberto Martinez's strong side from flourishing.

The debate around the five-time Ballon d'Or winner rages on, as it did at Euro 2024 and four years ago in Qatar -- yet Ronaldo endures, ready to play in a record sixth World Cup.

The 41-year-old remains a global superstar, playing for Saudi Arabia's Al-Nassr and is the leading men's international goalscorer with 143 strikes.

With 25 of those coming in 30 games under Martinez, the coach insists that Ronaldo is being selected on merit rather than because of his status.

The Spanish coach himself also faced scrutiny after Portugal's Euro 2024 quarter-final exit, with his detractors believing that such a strong squad was capable of winning.

Martinez started Ronaldo in all five games they played but the striker failed to find the net in Germany.

This season, Manchester United playmaker Bruno Fernandes set a new record for Premier League assists, and the Paris Saint-Germain contingent, including Vitinha, Joao Neves and Nuno Mendes, are among the best in their positions in the world.

When he was appointed in 2023, Martinez had the choice of whether to make a clean break from Ronaldo or maintain him as the team's captain and talisman, opting for the latter.

In response to the naysayers, Martinez can point to the team's successful 2025 Nations League triumph as proof that he is right to lean on Ronaldo.

The Portugal icon struck against Spain in the final to win his third international trophy, after Euro 2016 and the 2019 Nations League.

"I have many titles with clubs, but nothing is better than winning for Portugal," said Ronaldo after the game. "It's tears. It's mission accomplished, and pure joy."

The striker is closing in on 1,000 career goals for club and country, currently just 17 short.

Ronaldo is the team's captain and leader, feared by opponents and with international experience gained over more than two decades -- his Portugal debut was in 2003.

Martinez has highlighted the "inspiring mindset" of the veteran forward, who operates now as a center-forward rather than the flying winger of his youth.

Ronaldo's team-mates still believe the striker is delivering for Portugal.

PSG midfielder Vitinha told FIFA that it was "fantastic" to play with the former Real Madrid and Manchester United forward.

"He's one of the greatest players in history," said Vitinha.

"I'm very proud to share the dressing room with him, learn from him and witness his professionalism every day.

"I hope we can win the World Cup with him and for him as well."

- 'Can't worry' about Ronaldo -

In Portugal, where Ronaldo is a revered icon, it is rarely advisable to argue against him.

"Cristiano inside the box continues to be a very high-level player," Fernandes told Canal 11, a television channel run by the Portuguese football federation, in December.

"I know what people think, that it's clear we play better without Ronaldo, that the players are freer and more fluid," Fernandes continued.

"If that happens, it's partly our fault. We can't worry if Cristiano is on the pitch, because Cristiano can give us things."

Portugal's pressing suffers with Ronaldo and the team appears more cohesive without him. When Ronaldo starts, sometimes it seems as if the team works largely to service him.

The forward even came in for rare criticism in his protective homeland after he was sent off against Ireland for an elbow in qualifying, although FIFA let him off the hook by suspending two matches of his ban, meaning he is clear to play from the start of the World Cup.

Portugal begin their campaign in Group K against DR Congo on June 17, before facing Uzbekistan on June 23 and Colombia on June 28.

Martinez said he is not concerned that the intense tournament schedule might impact the 41-year-old.

"In my experience, at a World Cup, a player doesn't follow the pattern of club form, age-related performance or anything like that," said the coach after naming his squad for the tournament in North America.

It is stronger than arguably any Portugal squad to arrive at a World Cup prior and even as the debates around Ronaldo continue, what is inarguable is that they have the quality to succeed this summer.

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Spain ‘Favorites' Says Deschamps Ahead of World Cup Semi-Final Showdown

France’s national team head coach Didier Deschamps attends a press conference in Dallas, Texas, USA, 13 July 2026. (EPA)
France’s national team head coach Didier Deschamps attends a press conference in Dallas, Texas, USA, 13 July 2026. (EPA)
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Spain ‘Favorites' Says Deschamps Ahead of World Cup Semi-Final Showdown

France’s national team head coach Didier Deschamps attends a press conference in Dallas, Texas, USA, 13 July 2026. (EPA)
France’s national team head coach Didier Deschamps attends a press conference in Dallas, Texas, USA, 13 July 2026. (EPA)

France coach Didier Deschamps insisted he still sees Spain as World Cup favorites on Monday ahead of Les Bleus' blockbuster semi-final against the European champions.

France take on Spain at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas on Tuesday in a match widely seen as a collision of the best two teams in the tournament.

While Deschamps' side have lit up the World Cup with a string of scintillating performances, Spain's campaign has built momentum gradually following a shock 0-0 draw against minnows Cape Verde in their opening game.

Deschamps, though, maintains that France -- beaten by Spain in their last two meetings -- will be the underdog on Tuesday.

"Forget about the first game against Cape Verde," Deschamps said of Spain's campaign. "Ever since then Spain have confirmed that they are the favorites.

"I don't want to add extra pressure to (Spain coach) Luis (De la Fuente) and their team -- he knows very well that people are expecting great things of Spain.

"But Spain can attack well, and they can defend very well. They've only conceded one goal in the last six or seven matches."

Spain coach De la Fuente meanwhile smiled when asked for his response to Deschamps' comments at an eve-of-game press conference.

"Since the beginning, I've always said that the fact that people say we're favorites or not doesn't mean anything," De la Fuente told reporters. "It doesn't. It's not decisive."

"We are two great national teams facing each other, just as there are two great national teams facing each other in the other semi-final," De la Fuente added, stressing that his team was comfortable living with the pressure to succeed.

"Regardless of whether we're favorites or not, it doesn't mean create additional pressure," he said. "We have that pressure anyway. We want to do well for our country."

Deschamps meanwhile believes Tuesday's game has all the makings of a classic.

"With the quality of the two teams offensively, I think we could think that is going to be a spectacular game," he said.

Deschamps is also not overly concerned by the threat posed by Spain winger Lamine Yamal, who scored in La Roja's victories over France in the European Championship semi-final in 2024 and the UEFA Nations League last year.

"We know the strength of the opposing team. We have our own strengths," Deschamps said.

"Have I studied Yamal and his assets? Yes, he's one of the players that can really make a difference on the pitch.

"And all opponents should try to limit the strength of the other team, but we have many solutions.

"When it comes to a one-on-ones it could be tough. But having a one-on-one against some of my players is not an easy task either."

Deschamps confirmed that France captain Kylian Mbappe, who left the quarter-final win over Morocco late in the second half after taking a knock, was "100 percent" fit for the semi-final.

Sports

Norway Turn World Cup Heartbreak into Celebration as Huge Crowds Pack Capital

Supporters wave for Norway's national football team at Radhusplassen in Oslo after their return to Norway from the US on July 13, 2026. (AFP)
Supporters wave for Norway's national football team at Radhusplassen in Oslo after their return to Norway from the US on July 13, 2026. (AFP)
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Norway Turn World Cup Heartbreak into Celebration as Huge Crowds Pack Capital

Supporters wave for Norway's national football team at Radhusplassen in Oslo after their return to Norway from the US on July 13, 2026. (AFP)
Supporters wave for Norway's national football team at Radhusplassen in Oslo after their return to Norway from the US on July 13, 2026. (AFP)

More than 100,000 fans flooded the streets of the Norwegian capital Oslo on Monday to give their football team a heroes' welcome, turning the heartbreak of their World Cup exit into a massive national celebration.

A 2-1 extra-time defeat by England on Saturday brought Norway's historic run to an end in the quarter-finals, shattering the Nordics' dreams of a place in the last four. However, it did not stop the country celebrating their heroes.

Massive crowds under the Norwegian summer sun filled the grounds of the Royal Palace ‌early on Monday ‌afternoon, with an unofficial turnout estimated at more than 100,000 ‌people.

The ⁠Norway squad touched ⁠down to a traditional water cannon salute before commencing their homecoming parade in the capital.

The line of supporters quickly packed the palace square before stretching far down the main street, Karl Johans gate, as the squad first attended an audience with King Harald.

The team then stepped out to greet the fans with the Royal Guard standing to attention behind them.

Striker Erling Haaland was noticeably absent from the final stage of the celebrations, having left ⁠early.

His departure meant he missed joining his teammates on the ‌palace steps for one last "Viking row", with tens of ‌thousands of fans gathered below, which was led by Crown Prince Haakon on the drums.

"Erling ‌and Sander (Berge) had to catch their plane as our trip from the US was ‌delayed four hours," coach Stale Solbakken said, as the squad prepared to continue the celebrations in an open-top bus parade around Oslo.

Crowds slowed the bus to a halt through central Oslo, forcing it to reverse at one point as police escorts struggled to carve out a path. ‌Undeterred, Norway's players celebrated with beer and waved as the party continued long after dark.

CABLES PAUSE NORWEGIAN CELEBRATIONS

There was a moment ⁠of irony when ⁠the parade was halted by low-hanging overhead cables. The players, who had been standing and waving flags on the top deck, were forced to sit down to clear the obstruction before the double-decker could proceed.

Solbakken said earlier he was convinced the ball hit a camera cable above the pitch just before Jude Bellingham scored England's equalizer in the first half of the quarter-final.

World soccer's governing body FIFA has repeatedly denied that the ball touched any wire before the goal.

Hours after the parade began, it completed the 1.3-km route at City Hall Square, where tens of thousands of patient supporters were still waiting to welcome the team.

"I don't think anyone had imagined this," captain Martin Odegaard told Norwegian broadcaster NRK. "The support we have received in the USA and here at home in Norway, has been beyond all expectations. It has been absolutely incredible to see."

Sports

Lamine’s Great World Cup Day Still to Come, Says Spain’s De la Fuente

Football - FIFA World Cup 2026 - Spain Press Conference - Dallas Stadium, Arlington, Texas, US - July 13, 2026 Spain coach Luis De La Fuente during the press conference. (Reuters)
Football - FIFA World Cup 2026 - Spain Press Conference - Dallas Stadium, Arlington, Texas, US - July 13, 2026 Spain coach Luis De La Fuente during the press conference. (Reuters)
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Lamine’s Great World Cup Day Still to Come, Says Spain’s De la Fuente

Football - FIFA World Cup 2026 - Spain Press Conference - Dallas Stadium, Arlington, Texas, US - July 13, 2026 Spain coach Luis De La Fuente during the press conference. (Reuters)
Football - FIFA World Cup 2026 - Spain Press Conference - Dallas Stadium, Arlington, Texas, US - July 13, 2026 Spain coach Luis De La Fuente during the press conference. (Reuters)

Spain coach Luis de la ‌Fuente has told Lamine Yamal to pack away the birthday candles and any nerves, saying the teenager's grandest World Cup moment may come against France in Tuesday's semi-final or on an even bigger stage.

Lamine turned 19 on the eve of the meeting in Dallas and De la Fuente, who has long preached joy over jitters, said the forward should embrace rather than carry the occasion.

"I've told him there is no need to worry – let him enjoy himself. I'm sure Lamine’s great World Cup day is still to come. I hope it’s tomorrow and, if not, then in the final, if we can get there," De la Fuente told reporters.

Lamine has gradually been finding form after entering the World ‌Cup nursing a ‌hamstring injury he suffered after converting a penalty for Barcelona ‌in ⁠late April. He ⁠has scored one goal and failed to set up any at the tournament so far.

Spain beat France 5-4 in last year's Nations League semi-finals, but De la Fuente said the rematch would be another beast, particularly after the Spaniards almost let a 5-1 lead evaporate in the final 15 minutes.

"We learn a lot from those matches, as they will have done," he said. "We will try to repeat the scenarios where situations were favorable to us ⁠and not the others."

The Spain manager framed the contest as ‌a clash of "antagonistic styles" and said his side must ‌be wary of France's "very dangerous" transitions.

Asked how Spain stop forwards Kylian Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele and ‌Michael Olise, De la Fuente said there had been no shortage of homework.

"We’ve analyzed ‌them very, very thoroughly. They have players of exceptional caliber, but so do we. The key is to impose our own characteristics and style, and to neutralize the opposition. That’s football. The more balanced side is usually closer to winning, although that’s no guarantee," he said.

De la Fuente ‌said France were better than the side Spain beat in 2025, with both teams sharpened by time, and insisted he would ⁠not be drawn ⁠into France coach Didier Deschamps' suggestion that Spain are favorites, dismissing the label as little more than pre-match confetti.

"Being told you are favorites or not means nothing," De la Fuente said. "We are both great teams, like in the other semi-final (England v Argentina). I don’t understand why people say such things because whether we’re the favorites or not is completely irrelevant."

De la Fuente, who described himself as "very romantic" and joked that he likes Spanish singer-songwriter Julio Iglesias, said his final message to the players would be to enjoy a moment that may not come around again.

"I tell the players that we need to enjoy ourselves; we’re in a situation that might never happen again. That we be ourselves, and that we be wary of the opposition’s strengths. We absolutely must believe we want to go through. We’ll give it our all to reach the final," De la Fuente added.