“Winning the World Cup Is Not a Dream” — Cristiano Ronaldo Opens Up on Legacy, Critics, and Life Beyond Football

In a new sit-down with Piers Morgan, Cristiano Ronaldo once again reminded the world that he is unfazed by public opinion and criticisms. The Portuguese footballer, now based and plays in Saudi Arabia, spoke candidly about his career, his critics, and why winning the World Cup was never the ultimate dream people think it is. Cristiano Ronaldo has built his career on a contagious attitude to work, a fierce belief in himself and an unshakeable sense of purpose. And in his latest interview with Piers Morgan, which surfaced online on November 6, 2025, that same confidence shone through once more. When asked about the one trophy that continues to elude him for years now — the FIFA World Cup — Ronaldo didn’t hesitate. “Winning the World Cup is not a dream, of course it’s not,” he said without flinching. “Someone once said: Cristiano would be the greatest if he wins the World Cup. I do not agree. I’ve already won three titles with Portugal — three!” That statement rippled across social media within minutes. But to anyone who has followed Ronaldo’s journey, it was classic CR7 — proud, confident, self-aware, and tightly glued to his own standards of success. For him, greatness is not about chasing a single trophy. It is about consistency, discipline, and the countless milestones he has achieved across two decades of elite football. He pointed out that he’s already brought Portugal unprecedented success, recounting their historic Euro 2016 win to the UEFA Nations League title in 2019/2025. Ronaldo made it clear that he does not need a World Cup medal to validate what he’s done for both club and country. However, the conversation did not stop there. The 40 year old forward had strong words for those who question his relevance or criticize his performances, particularly the sect who so much glorify and favor the contributions and achievements of his Argentinian counterpart, Lionel Messi. “People always criticize me,” he said. “They talk, but they don’t know anything. Even in a bad season, I scored 25 goals. Numbers don’t lie.” When the topic turned to his move to Saudi Arabia, Ronaldo defended both his decision and the league itself: “The Saudi League is much better than the Portuguese league and Ligue 1,” he said confidently. “When people talk about the Saudi League, they’ve never been here. They don’t know what it means to run with 40 degrees heat.” It is no secret that his transfer initially drew skepticism. But Ronaldo’s presence has undeniably lifted the profile of the Saudi Pro League, with several global stars following in his footsteps. His words carried the tone of a man who feels both misunderstood and proud of the path he has chosen. The interview also took an unexpectedly emotional turn when he addressed why he didn’t attend the funeral of fellow Portuguese player Diogo Jota; something that drew heavy criticism online. “People criticize me a lot. I don’t care; I feel good with myself and with my decision. Since my father passed away, I never went to a cemetery again. And wherever I go, the attention turns to me — it becomes a circus. I don’t want that. If others do, good luck to them.” By the end of the conversation, one thing was unmistakably clear: Cristiano Ronaldo no longer feels the need to prove anything. The endless debates about “the greatest” or what he still needs to achieve do not seem to bother him anymore. For Ronaldo, football has never been about satisfying others’ definitions of greatness. It is about passion, hard work, and personal pride; the same qualities that took him from Madeira’s narrow streets to the summit of world football. “Winning the World Cup is not a dream,” he said, and maybe it never was. Because for Cristiano Ronaldo, the real dream has already been lived.

TAMARADENYEFA KOKO | 2025-11-07 17:18:50