Joao Cancelo on if Cristiano Ronaldo is part of top notch Portugal players for 2026 FIFA World Cup

Joao Cancelo backs Cristiano Ronaldo for Portugal World Cup

According to Fabrizio Romano, Cancelo made his stance clear on Ronaldo’s importance.

“We should be among top favorites to win the World Cup 2026 with quality of players we have. Cristiano Ronaldo as well? Of course, yes,” Cancelo said.

The comment reflects the respect Ronaldo still commands within the squad. His experience and presence remain valuable even as Portugal transition toward a younger attacking core.

Cancelo’s backing also highlights a key point. Internally, Ronaldo is still viewed as part of the solution, not a player being phased out. That contrasts with the external reaction to his recent absence.

Cristiano Ronaldo’s absence explained before Portugal friendlies

Ronaldo was not included in Portugal’s recent pre-World Cup friendlies due to a minor hamstring issue, with the coaching staff opting to rest him rather than risk aggravating the injury ahead of the tournament.

The matches against the United States and Mexico were used to assess other attacking options, but his absence was understood to be fitness-related rather than a selection decision based on form.

This approach reflects careful workload management. At this stage of his career, maintaining peak condition for major tournaments is a priority.

Portugal have also taken the opportunity to build depth, giving players like Goncalo Ramos and Rafael Leao more responsibility in these fixtures.

However, there has been no indication that Ronaldo has been dropped from long-term plans. The expectation remains that he will be part of the squad heading into 2026 if fit.