{"id":247427,"date":"2026-06-09T14:02:16","date_gmt":"2026-06-09T14:02:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/06\/09\/cristiano-ronaldo-doesnt-need-to-play-every-minute-of-every-game-ex-chelsea-star-on-portugals-fifa-world-cup-chances\/"},"modified":"2026-06-09T14:02:16","modified_gmt":"2026-06-09T14:02:16","slug":"cristiano-ronaldo-doesnt-need-to-play-every-minute-of-every-game-ex-chelsea-star-on-portugals-fifa-world-cup-chances","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/06\/09\/cristiano-ronaldo-doesnt-need-to-play-every-minute-of-every-game-ex-chelsea-star-on-portugals-fifa-world-cup-chances\/","title":{"rendered":"\u201cCristiano Ronaldo doesn\u2019t need to play every minute of every game\u201d &#8211; Ex-Chelsea star on Portugal\u2019s FIFA World Cup chances"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><\/p>\n<div id=\"article-content\" data-postid=\"5177324\" data-slug-id=\"2792834\">\n<div class=\"vidazoo-player-container\">\n<span class=\"vidazoo-close-btn  hidden \"><br \/>\n<br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>Former Chelsea midfielder Joe Cole believes that Cristiano Ronaldo-led Portugal have a good chance of winning the 2026 FIFA World Cup this summer. While he reckons that <em>A Selecao <\/em>have the best midfield in the tournament, Cole believes Ronaldo needs to humble himself and realize he doesn&#8217;t need to play every minute to make an impact.<\/p>\n<p>Portugal are currently ranked fifth in the FIFA World Rankings and are expected to make a deep run at the World Cup. Having clinched the 2025 UEFA Nations League last summer in Germany, Roberto Martinez and Co. will be backing themselves to win their maiden FIFA World Cup.<\/p>\n<p><template id=\"template__newsletter-inline-banner-form-combo-widget\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"wrapper\">\n<p><img id=\"subscribe-img\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/p>\n<p>\nThanks for the submission!\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/template><\/p>\n<p>Cristiano Ronaldo is set to feature in his sixth and final World Cup. Despite being in the twilight years of his career at 41, the Al-Nassr icon remains a starter in <em>A Selecao&#8217;s <\/em>starting XI under Martinez&#8217;s tutelage. With the likes of Bruno Fernandes, Vitinha, and Joao Neves operating in midfield, Ronaldo is arguably playing with the strongest pool of talent he has ever had on the international stage.<\/p>\n<p><template id=\"also-read-articles-template\"><\/p>\n<p><\/template><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sportskeeda.com\/player\/joe-cole\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-is-sponsored=\"false\">Cole<\/a> said (via <em><a href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/2026\/06\/09\/i-dont-fancy-them-joe-cole-predicts-huge-nation-will-limp-out-world-cup-28703853\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" data-is-sponsored=\"false\">METRO<\/a><\/em>):<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>&#8220;I think Portugal have got a chance. My thinking is\u2026 Vitinha, Nuno Mendes at left-back, obviously Cristiano Ronaldo, Bruno Fernandes, Joao Neves, so the midfield is solid, I think the midfield is the best midfield in the tournament.&#8221;<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>He also raised the importance of Cristiano Ronaldo taking a backseat at the FIFA World Cup:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>&#8220;The crucial thing for me is if Ronaldo can humble himself and realise he doesn\u2019t need to play every minute of every game. As you get older you\u2019ve got to understand your value. They got Rafael Leao on one side, Bernardo Silva coming in. They\u2019ve got so much.&#8221;<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Ronaldo notably had a disappointing 2022 FIFA World Cup, scoring one goal in five appearances, as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sportskeeda.com\/team\/portugal-football\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-is-sponsored=\"false\">Portugal<\/a> were eliminated in the quarter-finals.<\/p>\n<hr\/>\n<h2>Cristiano Ronaldo will aim to bounce back against Nigeria before FIFA World Cup opener vs DR Congo<\/h2>\n<p>Portugal superstar <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sportskeeda.com\/player\/cristiano-ronaldo\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-is-sponsored=\"false\">Cristiano Ronaldo<\/a> will aim to bounce back in their upcoming international friendly against Nigeria on Wednesday, June 10. The 41-year-old had a disappointing performance during <em>A Selecao&#8217;s<\/em> 2-1 win over Chile (June 6), which led to a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sportskeeda.com\/football\/news-fewer-touches-opposition-gk-5th-time-last-five-months-mls-legend-issues-another-cristiano-ronaldo-warning-portugal\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-is-sponsored=\"false\">scathing review by MLS legend Taylor Twellman<\/a>. <\/p>\n<p>Ronaldo was unable to register a goal contribution, made only 12 touches, and missed one big chance before being subbed off at half-time against Chile. Portugal will face Nigeria in a friendly before kicking off their FIFA World Cup campaign against Congo on June 17. They will also face Uzbekistan and Colombia in Group K.<\/p>\n<p>Despite his recent struggles, Ronaldo remains the highest international goalscorer of all time, garnering 143 goals in 227 appearances across all competitions.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-post-rating-widget\">\n<p><template id=\"post-rating-feedback-modal-template\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"post-rating-feedback-feedback-box\">\n<div class=\"post-rating-feedback-content\">\n<div class=\"post-rating-feedback-data\">\n<p>Why did you not like this content?<\/p>\n<p><textarea id=\"dislike-feedback-text\" rows=\"4\" placeholder=\"Please type your feedback...\"\/>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>\n<button class=\"close\">Cancel<\/button><br \/>\n<button class=\"submit\">Submit<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/template><\/p>\n<div class=\"post-rating-widget-parent hidden\">\n<div class=\"rating-parent-container\">\n<div class=\"rating-content-holder\">\n<p>Was this article helpful?<\/p>\n<div class=\"post-rating-action-container\">\n<div class=\"like-container\">\n<button class=\"post-rating-like-button post-rating-button\" data-action=\"like\" title=\"like article\"><br \/>\n<img class=\"post-like-image post-rating-image\" data-lazy=\"\/\/staticg.sportskeeda.com\/like-articles\/upvote-icon-grey.svg\" height=\"20\" width=\"20\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"like selected\"\/><br \/>\n<\/button>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"dislike-container\">\n<button class=\"post-rating-dislike-button post-rating-button\" data-action=\"dislike\" title=\"dislike article\"><br \/>\n<img class=\"post-dis-like-image post-rating-image\" data-lazy=\"\/\/staticg.sportskeeda.com\/like-articles\/upvote-icon-grey.svg\" height=\"20\" width=\"20\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"avatar selected\"\/><br \/>\n<\/button>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>\nThank You for feedback\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"tag-cloud\">\n<div class=\"tags-text\">\n<div class=\"scrollable-content-holder  article-padding\">\n<p class=\"article-p  \">Quick Links<\/p>\n<p><button id=\"pnAdvancerLeft\" class=\"pn-Advancer pn-Advancer_Left \" type=\"button\"><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" style=\"background: none;\" src=\"https:\/\/staticg.sportskeeda.com\/skm\/assets\/article\/article-scroll-left.svg\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><br \/>\n<\/button><\/p>\n<nav id=\"pnProductNav\" class=\"pn-ProductNav\">\n<\/nav>\n<p><button id=\"pnAdvancerRight\" class=\"pn-Advancer pn-Advancer_Right \" type=\"button\"><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" style=\"background: none;\" src=\"https:\/\/staticg.sportskeeda.com\/skm\/assets\/article\/article-scroll-right.svg\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><br \/>\n<\/button>\n<\/div>\n<p>More from Sportskeeda<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>\n<span class=\"publisher-name\">Edited by Silas Sud<\/span>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sportskeeda.com\/football\/news-cristiano-ronaldo-doesn-t-need-play-every-minute-every-game-ex-chelsea-star-portugal-s-fifa-world-cup-chances\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Former Chelsea midfielder Joe Cole believes that Cristiano Ronaldo-led Portugal have a good chance of winning the 2026 FIFA World Cup this summer. While he reckons that A Selecao have the best midfield in the tournament, Cole believes Ronaldo needs to humble himself and realize he doesn&#8217;t need to play every minute to make an [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":247428,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"tdm_status":"","tdm_grid_status":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[6806],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-247427","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-gossip"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/247427","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=247427"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/247427\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/247428"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=247427"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=247427"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=247427"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}