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What did the English star say about the Madeira rocket?
England’s Rio Ferdinand, the former Manchester United legend, has made exciting comments about his country’s participation in the 2026 World Cup with Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo, stressing that the best way to get the most out of the Saudi Al Nasri captain could be to include him in the starting line-up for every game.
Speaking on the Kora Break podcast, Ferdinand spoke about how to manage Ronaldo in the upcoming tournament, noting that the player’s age calls for a different approach that ensures his fitness in key roles.
Ferdinand said that if he were Portugal’s coach, he would be honest with Ronaldo, explaining: “I would tell him. You know you are capable of winning the World Cup for us. You are the best scorer in the history of Portugal and you will remain so, but now you are 41 years old.”
The former England defender explained that Portugal must focus on getting the best out of Ronaldo during the tournament, whether by starting him in some games or relying on him from the bench at other times as a trump card.
He added: “He can start the match and tire the defenders and then leave, or he can start from the bench and come on later. The important thing is that he is in the best physical condition when the team needs him.”
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Ferdinand believed that just seeing Ronaldo about to come on was enough to confuse any defender, saying: “If I’m a defender in a quarter-final or a semi-final and I see Cristiano warming up in the 65th or 70th minute, I’ll immediately start thinking about him and maybe forget about the striker on the pitch.”
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He stressed that Ronaldo’s true value still lies in the penalty area as he described him as the most dangerous player when the ball reaches him in the right positions, stressing that Portugal must maintain his fitness and vitality for the final rounds instead of wearing him down during the group stage.
Ferdinand concluded by stressing his desire to see Ronaldo “fresh, strong and determined” in the big games, believing that managing his minutes could be key to Portugal’s dream of a first-ever World Cup title.
