Ronaldo: I prefer to meet Spain later, but that's how the World Cup is

According to RTVE, Portugal captain Ronaldo said he would have preferred to face Spain later, but that is the nature of the FIFA World Cup.

Ronaldo meets Spain again, the country where he became a legend. During his nine seasons with Real Madrid, he shone in one of football's greatest rivalries, leaving an indelible mark with goals, records, and an insatiable competitive drive.

Today, Ronaldo leads Portugal, still driven by the desire to win that has defined his entire career, as they face Spain once again. Before the match, the Portuguese captain was interviewed by Andrés Rubio, a special correspondent for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. When asked whether he enjoyed playing against Spain or would have preferred to meet them later, Ronaldo replied: "Later would be better, but this is what we have to face; this is how the FIFA World Cup is, this is how the matchups are. If you want to win a tournament, you have to play against the best teams, and in such tournaments, you have to face the strongest opponents, and Spain is one of them, and we've met them."

The Al Nassr player also spoke to RTVE about how he continues to play extensively for Portugal at the age of 41. Ronaldo said: "Nothing is easy, nothing in life is guaranteed; you have to work hard and always be ready. What's important is that I feel good and can help the national team as usual, whether starting, coming on as a substitute, or being subbed off, it's all the same to me. The important thing is to play for your country and try to do your best." Previously, he played in all group stage matches and appeared for 31 minutes in the Round of 16 against Croatia.

Regarding retirement, Ronaldo has played at the top level of football for most of his life, so the question is almost inevitable: how much longer can we enjoy watching Ronaldo on the field? The Portuguese captain is not yet ready to discuss retirement. Ronaldo said: "That's not important now; I play for the national team as if it were my first cap. Obviously, after the FIFA World Cup, you journalists will get an answer, but I don't want to shift the topic to Ronaldo, or these future matters, because now is not the time to talk about it. You understand, this is a match against Spain, a FIFA World Cup match, and we need to focus on that and try to beat the Spanish."

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