It’s been four long years since the last World Cup. And for Ronaldo, it feels like an eternity. The Portuguese superstar is now 37 years old, and while he’s still one of the best players in the world, his time to win a World Cup is running out. In this article, we’ll take a look at whether Ronaldo has what it takes to win one last World Cup.
Ronaldo has had an incredible career. He’s won the Champions League five times, the European Championship once, and the FIFA Club World Cup twice. He’s also won the Ballon d’Or five times, and he’s currently the all-time leading goalscorer in the Champions League.
But despite all of his collective and individual successes, Ronaldo has never won a World Cup. And with each passing year, his chances of winning one get smaller and smaller.
What are the odds according to the bookmakers?
The bookmakers don’t give Ronaldo much of a chance to win the World Cup this summer. In fact, he’s currently being given odds of just 20/1 by one of the best betting brands, Bwin soccer, to win the tournament. That means that for every £1 you bet on Ronaldo to win the World Cup, you would win £20 if he were to actually win it.
So, Why Are the Bookmakers Giving Ronaldo Such Low Odds?
Well, there are a few reasons. First of all, Portugal is not considered to be one of the favorites to win the World Cup. They’re currently ranked 8th in the world by FIFA, and they failed to even make it out of their group at the last World Cup.
Second of all, Ronaldo is now 37 years old. That’s ancient in football years, and it’s unlikely that he’ll be able to play at his current level for much longer. In fact, he’s already showing signs of slowing down. This season on Man U, Ronaldo is not even of the top 16 top scorers in the league.
Finally, there are a number of other players who are considered to be more likely to win the World Cup than Ronaldo. Lionel Messi is currently being given odds of 4/1 by Bwin, while Neymar is being given odds of 6/1.
So, what does Ronaldo need to do to win the World Cup?
In order to have a chance of winning the World Cup, Ronaldo is going to need a few things to go his way.
Survive the first round
First of all, he’s going to need Portugal to make it out of their group. They’re in a tough group with Ghana, Uruguay, and South Korea, but if they can manage to make it to the knockout stages, anything is possible.
Stay healthy
Second of all, Ronaldo is going to need to stay healthy. At 37 years old, he’s not exactly in his prime anymore, and he’s already had a few injuries this season. If he can stay healthy and avoid any serious injuries, he’ll have a much better chance of winning the World Cup.
Help from his teammates
In addition, Ronaldo is going to need some help from his teammates. Portugal has a number of good players, but they’re going to need to step up if they want to win the World Cup. Players like Bernardo Silva, Bruno Fernandes, Ruben Neves, and the talented Joao Felix are going to need to be at their best if Portugal is going to have any chance of winning the World Cup.
Fernando Santos’ tactics in the spotlight
Moreover, the tactics are going to be important for Ronaldo and Portugal. They’re not a high-scoring team and are not going to be able to win the World Cup by simply outscoring their opponents. Just like Greece in 2004, Denmark in 1992, and Portugal themselves in 2016, they’re going to need to focus on having a solid defence and make sure they’re not conceding many goals.
From the physical point of view Portugal’s midfield is sometimes found wanting when facing teams like Brazil, France, or Germany, with the Portuguese traditionally relying more on art and guile than strength and athleticism. Fernando Santos receives plenty of criticism for his conservative style of play, but if he can build a watertight defensive unit, they could well go far in the tournament.
Conclusion
At the end of the day, Ronaldo is a long shot to win the World Cup this summer. He’s got a tough road ahead of him, and he’s going to need a lot of things to go his way if he wants to lift the trophy.
The odds of 20/1 are not great, but if you’re a fan of Ronaldo or Portugal, it might be worth putting a bet down as stranger things have happened in football, and if Ronaldo can somehow manage to lead Portugal to glory, it would be one of the greatest stories in the history of the sport. Who knows? Maybe this is finally Ronaldo’s year. What’s sure is he won’t have another chance in the future.
