41-year-old Ronaldo, risking everything! The sixth World Cup, just for that "dead" dream

Although the Portuguese team's performance in the 2024 European Cup was disappointing, Ronaldo used his almost unparalleled physical condition and consistent goals to win himself the opportunity to compete in the World Cup for the sixth time. When he said "Winning the World Cup is not my dream" in an interview, this sentence quickly detonated the football world. This is in stark contrast to his tearful exit from the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where he declared on social media that "winning the World Cup for Portugal is the biggest and most ambitious dream of my career." His tears were so real in that moment that he wrote that the dream was "over." Now, the 40-year-old legend is redefining his relationship with dreams.

Recently, Ronaldo confirmed in an interview that he will end his career as a professional player in the next one or two years. This means that the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico will be the last international competition he participates in before retiring, and will also be the real final chapter of his career. "I'll be forty-one by then and I'm going to enjoy that moment," he said. This sentence contains a bit of relief, a bit of expectation, and even the last attachment of a generation of legends to the stage.

This change in mentality reveals the complex psychological changes of a top athlete in the twilight years of his career. Rather than saying that he no longer desires, it is better to say that this is a kind of self-protection and mentality reshaping after going through vicissitudes of life. At club level, he has won it all; for Portugal, he has also contributed trophies including the European Cup and two UEFA Nations League titles. He may finally understand that pinning all his self-worth on an elusive goal is a huge drain. Therefore, he chose to bury this obsession deep in his heart and face the final journey with a more calm attitude.

However, anyone who knows Ronaldo will not be confused by his indifference at this moment. His almost strict self-discipline, his choice to play in the Saudi League and maintain a high scoring rate even at the age of 40, all point to the fact that the competitive fire in him has never been extinguished. Former Premier League striker Clinton Morrison pointedly pointed out: "He will care! Cristiano Ronaldo wants to win everything. He is absolutely eager to win the World Cup." This deep-seated desire may just be a different way of existence. It is no longer a heavy dream that needs to be talked about, but has turned into the last step to leave in his daily training, and turned into his persistence to run hard in the hot weather.

The 2026 World Cup will be a truly grand finale for Cristiano Ronaldo. He no longer has anything to prove to anyone, his legacy has already been engraved in football history. But this last dance was danced for himself. He clearly knows that unlike football powers that are accustomed to championships, "Once the Portuguese team reaches the top of the world, it will be a feat that shocks the world." It is this possibility of creating history that drives him to continue moving forward.

So, when we hear Ronaldo say "The World Cup is not my dream," we don't have to rush to conclude that this is a compromise or an excuse. This is more like a strategic transition by a veteran. He takes back all his energy from the distant slogan and pours it into every ball at his feet. Dreams can change forms, but the spiritual core of pursuing excellence and challenging time has never changed. He is using an epic, age-defying personal show to compose the prelude to his World Cup swan song. When that day comes, what we will see will no longer be just a player chasing trophies, but a Ronaldo who has learned to enjoy football itself in the chase. Regardless of whether the ending is happy or regretful, this final journey itself is enough to once again prove that Ronaldo is the greatest Goat of this era!