m88woldcups.com - Cristiano Ronaldo, much like his eternal rival Lionel Messi, is believed to want to be in the “number one” position when the time comes for him to hang up his boots.

This view was expressed by former Real Madrid striker Álvaro Negredo, who believes that the Portuguese superstar is not yet ready to deliver the “final word” of his career.

Ronaldo still has numerous objectives he wishes to achieve, with a major ambition to compete for World Cup glory in the summer of 2026.

Ronaldo’s Targets: Many Achievements Still to Be Pursued

Argentine icon Lionel Messi has completed his greatest achievement by winning the World Cup with Albiceleste in Qatar in 2022.

He is expected to take part again in an effort to defend that title at the tournament to be held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

Cristiano Ronaldo is also certain to appear at the competition, as he will be 41 years old when he features in the final stages of his sixth World Cup during his career.

With Portugal, he has won the European Championship as well as two UEFA Nations League titles, but his collection of honors is still not entirely complete.

Negredo acknowledged that Ronaldo, who has broken numerous records throughout his extraordinary career, would certainly want to conclude his professional journey at the very top.

He is still chasing the target of 1,000 career goals, while a two-year contract extension with Saudi Pro League club Al-Nassr has tied him to the club until 2027.

Trophy Ambitions: Ronaldo and Messi Want to End Their Careers at the Top

Negredo, who briefly rejoined Real Madrid before departing again just weeks later in the summer of 2009, coinciding with Ronaldo’s arrival at the Santiago Bernabéu, shared his views with BetVictor.

He stated that the decision to retire is extremely difficult, especially for players with extraordinary goalscoring productivity such as Ronaldo and Messi.

According to Negredo, the best way to end a career is by winning trophies. He believes that Ronaldo has not yet said his final word, as his physical condition remains extremely well maintained despite his advancing age.

At that age, Ronaldo is considered capable of maintaining a very high level of performance.

Negredo also emphasized that Ronaldo and Messi possess a tremendous desire to win and to be the best, which is why both want to be in the number one position when they retire.

Despite perceptions that the leagues in which they currently play are less competitive, he believes that maintaining performance levels at the ages of 40 and 38 under high demands is not an easy task for any footballer.

Many observers even speculate that Ronaldo could continue playing for longer, opening up the possibility of one day featuring on the same team as his eldest son, Cristiano Jr. To this day, Ronaldo’s passion for football shows no signs of fading.

Level of Competition: Ronaldo in Saudi Arabia and Messi in MLS

Lionel Messi has signed a new three-year contract with Inter Miami after helping the club win the MLS Cup in 2025 and securing his second MVP award of his career. There is no indication that Messi will bring his career to an end in the near future.

The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner is enjoying his experience in the United States, while Ronaldo has performed impressively since becoming the pioneer of the wave of star players moving to the Middle East.

Ronaldo has regularly praised the standard of Saudi Arabian football, even claiming that its quality surpasses Major League Soccer and France’s Ligue 1.

Negredo acknowledged that Ronaldo faces significant challenges in Riyadh, but he doubts that the level of competition there matches that of Europe’s top leagues.

The former Sevilla and Manchester City striker, who previously played in Dubai with Al-Nasr, explained that climatic conditions featuring intense heat and high humidity make 90-minute matches extremely physically demanding, even though the defensive quality does not compare to that found in Spain.

Return to Roots: Ronaldo and Messi Linked with Emotional Homecomings

Cristiano Ronaldo has been linked with a possible return to his boyhood club Sporting CP, while Newell’s Old Boys continue to hold an interest in bringing Lionel Messi back as a native son.

Both players could also choose to end their careers at their current clubs when their lucrative contracts expire, with the belief that there is nothing left to prove at the highest level of world football.