It is less than a fortnight since FIFA president Gianni Infantino requested World Cup 2022 teams that they should “focus on the football” rather than discussing human rights issues in Qatar.
That has caused controversy in its own right but, as we are here to talk about the actual football, let’s focus on Portugal led by the brilliant Cristiano Ronaldo.
Having been around since 2003, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner is featuring at a record-equalling fifth World Cup.
He was a key figure in their 2016 European Championship and 2019 Nations League titles, completely changing the way that Portuguese football is viewed abroad.
And, of course, he is also the top-scorer in international football with 117 goals and is Europe’s most-capped player, having made 191 appearances for his country.
So can he, Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva and co-lead them to World Cup 2022 highlights and, ultimately, World Cup glory?
When you look at their squad, Portugal certainly have more depth and all-round talent than they had when they were crowned European Champions six years ago.
However, this time their talisman will need more support.
On previous occasions, he has almost single-handedly led them to victory. In 2022, he has managed two goals and two assists in 388 minutes of Nations League action in 2022 and is patently not the force he was – even if his stamina and athleticism still outshine any other 37-year-old at the top level of the game.
Indeed, for the first time in his career, Ronaldo is actually heading to the World Cup facing doubts over whether he still merits a place in the team (he does).
He also knows this is likely to be his final chance at World Cup glory and will be determined to go out on a high.
Either way then, CR7 will never be far from the headlines and that has been the case again in the lead-up to the tournament, although this time for far from ideal reasons.
Indeed, with his Manchester United career seemingly over following this week’s well-documented interview (much of it was true, but he went too far), the Marvel from Madeira will be focusing fully on firing Portugal to the first World Cup in their history, further cementing his spot as one of, if not the greatest footballer of all time – certainly, I disagree with my SBOTOP colleague that Pele was the greatest but that debate is for another day!
All I will say is that, as far as I am concerned, Ronaldo has long since surpassed Pele, who played his entire club career in Brazil.
Ronaldo already has the big individual European Championship records – most tournaments played, most games, most goals – as well as winning Euro 2016, has 700 club goals, more than 30 trophies and five World Player of the Year gongs.
There is no chance of him being dropped, even if below par.
In fact, look back to their Euro 2020 exit last summer and, when boss Fernando Santos said he had the support of Cristiano as if it were something essential for him to continue in post, it sounded very much as if the captain calls the shots in every way.
He has deserved that but will need support.
Because the difference between now and previous years is that Ronaldo, who turns 38 in January, is unlikely to be able to consistently possess the genius required to inspire his country without a little help from his team-mates.
Four clean sheets in the qualifying group and another when it really counted in the play-offs deserved pride and praise.
Beating Turkey 3-1 in Porto in the play-off semi-final was heart-stopping – Burak Yilmaz missed a late penalty to make it 2-2 – but taking Italy’s conquerors North Macedonia to the same stadium five days later for the final was a walk in the park as Fernandes scored twice to send Portugal to Qatar.
Yet fans and analysts alike seemed unified in the idea that Santos was not only too defensive-minded but also too conservative in maximising a talented emerging generation of quick, creative footballers.
Either way, it has worked for them and, as well as Fernandes and Silva, they have another Manchester City star in Ruben Dias and AC Milan forward Rafael Leao who helped them to their first Serie A title for more than a decade last season.
Player for player, Portugal have some of the best in the world and a quick glance at the World Cup 2022 betting odds show Portugal are contenders, although not among the leading favourites.
They will face a challenge in Group H which pairs them with Ghana, Uruguay and South Korea.
Progress from that, as they should, and the real test will begin.
Can Portugal win the World Cup? Yes. Will they? I don’t think they have quite enough.
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