Ruben Dias Questions If 2026 Will End Ronaldo and Messi's World Cup Runs

Ruben Dias, the defender for Manchester City, has expressed skepticism that the 2026 World Cup will mark the final appearance for seasoned players such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, and Luka Modric. The Portuguese centre-back highlighted the strong motivation within his team to secure the World Cup trophy, which remains the only major title eluding their captain.

In a recent discussion with Portuguese media outlet A Bola, Dias addressed the speculation surrounding the 2026 tournament being the last for these iconic footballers. When asked about the possibility of this World Cup serving as the concluding chapter for Messi, Modric, and Ronaldo, Dias responded with uncertainty, saying, "Let's see…". He emphasized the additional drive the team feels to win the trophy that Ronaldo has yet to claim.

Portugal, known for consistently producing elite football talent, views winning the World Cup as a paramount goal. Dias conveyed that the team does not perceive the expectation to win the trophy for Ronaldo as pressure but rather as a shared objective to surpass Messi and Argentina. He stated, "It would be a pleasure for all of us to be able to provide that moment to him, to ourselves, to all of Portugal, to our families. It does not represent extra pressure, it represents, yes, an even more special desire to be part of [the World Cup] and to get there to win."

The tournament will once again feature three of football’s most celebrated players, collectively holding 14 Ballon d'Or awards. Messi, currently with Inter Miami, has earned eight Ballon d'Or titles, the 2022 World Cup, two Copa America championships, and four UEFA Champions League trophies. Ronaldo, playing for Al-Nassr, has five Ballon d'Or awards, five Champions League titles, a Euro 2016 championship, and league titles across England, Spain, Italy, and Saudi Arabia. Luka Modric, now with Milan, won the Ballon d'Or in 2018, breaking the Messi-Ronaldo dominance, and has six Champions League medals from his time at Madrid.

The group stage of the World Cup will begin on June 17, presenting challenging fixtures for these veterans. Argentina, the defending champions, will face Algeria, Austria, and Jordan. Croatia, led by Modric, will compete against England, Panama, and Ghana. Portugal’s campaign starts against DR Congo, followed by matches against Uzbekistan on June 23 and Colombia on June 27. These early games will be crucial for the teams’ aspirations to advance toward the championship.