Real Madrid winger, Vinicius Jr has identified Portugal, led by Cristiano Ronaldo, as one of the frontrunners for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The tournament is set to commence next month across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Ronaldo recently celebrated his first significant trophy with Al-Nassr. After narrowly defeating rivals Al-Hilal to secure the Saudi Pro League title, the talented forward aims to carry that momentum into the World Cup.
Historically, Portugal has never claimed the trophy, and this may be Ronaldo’s final opportunity to achieve that goal.
Vinicius believes that the former Real Madrid star can significantly impact the World Cup this summer.
He has recognized Portugal as one of the favorites and praised the quality of players available to them.
The Brazilian acknowledged Vitinha and Joao Neves as two of the finest talents in the current generation, while also mentioning Nuno Mendes, Rafael Leao, and Joao Felix.
Vinicius expressed on CazeTV via MadridXtra, “Is Portugal one of the favorites? Yes, because Cristiano is there, and that is important. There are Vitinha and João Neves, who rank among the best of the current generation. Nuno, Leão, and Félix are also players I have a strong rapport with.”
Portugal faced elimination in the quarter-finals of the 2022 FIFA World Cup at the hands of Morocco. In the 2026 tournament, they will compete in Group K against DR Congo, Uzbekistan, and Colombia.
