Topic: FIFA World Cup 2026 :Canada/Mexico/United States: Discussion Thread - page 97. (Read 67297 times)

The funny thing is that the sheikhs themselves have wild parties with drugs and rock'n roll and what not.

But Ronaldo will certainly not have any issues as being allowed to live a free life was 100% part of the contractual agreements.

What was the plan now, that Saudi Arabia hosts the World Cup in 2034? Was that already decided? But by then I guess Ronaldo won't be playing anymore.

I think with time some of the restrictions will be reviewed because they are aware now that it will definitely affect business as they are aiming to be on the global platform and if they must continue with all their restrictions then they may not be able to have some of their business on the global scale as they would want it to be especially when it has to do with sports just the way they have currently and if they will be able to expand their industry in the sports are to the level where they will be able to get more investors and fans aswell which will further promote their sports a s give it the desired attention the adjustments have to be made so that stars like Ronald a s others can get to fit in well enough in their leagues and play to get them to the point they wish to get to win their sporting activities.

Just like during the world cup that was held in Qatar, some of their restrictions were reviewed a d they made provisions for visitors because they know if they don't then it will be a problem in the long run, one of the adjustments were having an alcohol outlet at a point that was authorized to be the only alcohol spot and it I think consumption too were regulated but it was for the purpose of the game after which I don't know what happened there again.

Talking about the contenders for the next tournament seems to be so early i guess, but if you want in my opinion only the clasics national teams are the contenders like always in the history pf the world cup.

THe minor teams can do nothing in a world cup aside of reaching at his best a semifinal this is a big boys tournament. Only Croatia do a suepr performance being a little team.

In last few years as we have MBS at the top we have some policies are revised which are helpful for the foreigners with we are also having soft policy about Abaya as well which is good so just because of this Cristiano Ronaldo and his family is having no issue here even many are still feeling no comfortable, but things are taking good change, and we will have good development in coming years as we are looking after soccer now they are working on Tennis and Cricket and for this all they need to have softened their policies about women and other things which will surely happen.
Recently we have news Cristiano Ronaldo wants to extend his contract until 2027 which is another development for the many foreigner players those are interested to join this league, and they are doing this all as they are already having world cup rights for the 2034.

Ronaldo doesn't have any issues with staying in Saudi Arabia, but his girlfriend may not be that happy. Saudi laws are more restrictive towards the females. But a lot has changed over the years, ever since Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud came to power. He has envisioned Saudi Arabia transitioning to a modern society, compatible with Islamic values. Movie theatres and shopping malls are opening all over the country. Also the crown price wants to transform Saudi Arabia to a global sports hub.

Argentina had one of the greatest players of all time, but they managed to put a decent squad around him on the last world cup and that's how they won. Now Messi would be too old, meaning that they are going to need even better players around him but that seems like not going to happen at all.

So, we shouldn't really consider this as an issue and we should definitely take a look at it like it is the most normal thing ever for them to lose. I mean a team can't win it all the time, how many teams ever won back to back? Not many recently at least, so we could just not expect much from them. France still looks strong, they have a young good squad, maybe they will do fine, or maybe England could do something finally. All in all, I think there are at least 3-4 teams that can win it.

Saudi Arabia atmosphere and culture vey difference such as usually for European players or their family, but I don't think its an acceptable reason behind Cristiano Ronaldo and some top or European players adapt well how difference culture in Saudi Arabia and Ronaldo have been three season there without any problem yet.
I think Lionel Messi accepted MLS League team offer behind more interested offering than Saudi Arabia club and he won't get more compete with Cristiano Ronaldo behind both players still be more excited rivalry right now. Keep respect between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo decision although playing with difference competition but has good rumor with Inter Miami owner David Bekham has dreaming to sign Ronaldo and joining Inter Miami after his contract over.

From what I heard, Messi rejected the Saudi offer due to opposition from his wife (Antonella Roccuzzo). She was not happy about moving to a country where women are supposed to wear the abaya while going out. Anyway, he got a very good deal from Major League Soccer (MLS). On the other hand, Ronaldo made maximum use of his opportunity. Not only he benefitted monetarily, he is also performing exceptionally for his new club (Al Nassr). So far this season, Ronaldo is the top scorer in the Saudi Pro League. 

Regarding the proposal to play in Saudi, I think he really preferred to go to the USA because the culture is closer to what he experienced throughout his life, a radical change of culture at this point in his life would probably not be a good cost benefit for him.

Messi may even be able to play at Barcelona, as a farewell season, just like Daniel Alves did when he was close to 40... I think it is very difficult for him to go and play in Argentina, mainly due to the football structure, he will certainly prioritize a country where he lives and already knows basically everything (Spain).

They are just playing for money from now on and it is normal though. They say Messi rejected a much bigger offer from Saudi Arabia. But they are missing a point, Messi is like owning the MLS now. He has even a share at Inter Miami.   

Anyways when it comes to your question the only way one of Messi and Ronaldo to return to Europe would be their jubilees. I don't know about Ronaldo for now. I have always thought Messi would think of doing so at Barcelona before his retirement.

I think Messi will do one of these:

• He will end his career at Barcelona
• Or he will return to his first team which is Newell's Old Boys

With the on-going performance of the Cristiano Ronaldo things are clearly indicating he is going to stay here as long as he can with his contract is going to end in June 2025, but he is now trying to extend this contract until June 2027 even we have nothing about this until now but as he is playing and having performance Al Nassr is going to extend his contract because they need him and in this league he can do again this same performance for coming years.

With this he can participate into 2026 world cup as player with after this nothing is clear but what he can do for the Portugal in World Cup this is also not clear because things are never been easy to win big trophies with they need to have start done from their domestic system which give them quality players, but we can expect good future of this legendary player in soccer.

Usually players career depend on his fitness and performance with right now Lionel Messi is doing impressive work in Inter Miami, and he is going to stay here until end of the 2025 season after this intention is clear because most chances he will stay in game until few more years as he wants to play again for his boyhood club Newell's Old Boys so most chances if he stays fit and his performance also keep level then we will have him in next world cup which could be good for his team.

In recent time we have too much talk about two legendary players career with both are going to play until 2026 world cup after this thing could be not clear because here age factor is also having big impact with performance level is also important because we have tough competition in Argentinian national team and many youngsters are ready to give their best.

For Messi, I don't know what he will do and what it will be like when Argentina takes part in the 2026 World Cup competition, but what is clear is that I won't have any hopes for Messi considering that he is not player that I really idolize.
But for Ronaldo there is still the possibility of participating in the 2026 World Cup with Portugal and if he plays in small team, I don't think so because his mother had asked Ronaldo to return to defend one of the teams from Portugal, namely Sporting, this will be the final days of retirement for Ronaldo.

Yes, 2026 means there are still 2 season ahead and of course there will be many unexpected things happening later, but they are players who are considered great and important for their country so it will still be possible to use them.
I know that their performance will definitely experience very significant decline and in the future they will be left behind by the young players, perhaps their playing style is just running forward looking for position and waiting for pass to come in to be converted into goal.

I still have my doubts whether Cristiano Ronaldo will really play in the 2026 World Cup.
I remember a statement he made a while ago after Al-Nassr's victory over Damac... he said (without much enthusiasm) that he would continue playing this year and next year, but he didn't guarantee anything about their participation in the world cup.
Ronaldo is a player who knows and respects the limits of his body very well, who already has 38 years of life on this earth, and I believe that perhaps he wants to end his career being well remembered as a player who won many titles in Europe and also who scored many goals in Saudi Arabia.
Perhaps it would be better for him to end his career like this than if he is remembered for a poor performance in the 2026 World Cup.

I could be wrong, in fact I would like to see Cristiano Ronaldo play in another World Cup, but I really believe that this is unlikely.

No matter if Ronaldo is the top scorer in the Saudi League. Don't forget that he is playing in the AFC not in the top European teams and he is not playing against stronger teams and there are fewer superstar players playing in their good form.
That's why you can't say Ronaldo had a perfect performance in the Saudi League because of him being the top scorer and that's why Ronaldo can play in the 2026 World Cup.
Even when he was young and played in the Qatar World Cup he could not help his team too much.
Other than this, we are talking about the next two years and he will even get older in 2026.

Yes, his position in the Saudi pro league club is definitely not under any kind of threat. if we talk about Portugal, I also have to say that I do not think they have actually been able to find any good replacement for Cristiano Ronaldo. But I highly doubt that he will have a great impact on the next World Cup that Portugal is going to play. I would actually think that Cristiano Ronaldo will become a coach after his professional career as a footballer is over.

maybe he will be able to take Portugal to the glory of the World Cup as a coach. Because if we talk about Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi as players, I think the era of both of them being the best in the world and fighting with each other for the best individual trophies and success is definitely over. for a certain generation, they are going to remain the best in the world.

At least for Cristiano Ronaldo, a position in the squad is not under threat at this moment. He is in good form, as we have seen during this season of the Saudi Pro League. Al-Nassr is at second position right now, and all set to qualify for the AFC Champions League Elite league. Cristiano Ronaldo is the top-scorer with 32 goals so far, and he is far ahead of Aleksandar Mitrović and Abderrazak Hamdallah. It can't get any better than this. He is scoring at an average of around 2 goals per match. 

.If either Lionel Messi or Ronaldo retires before the next World Cup, rest assured that the decision to retire will come from Lionel Messi. Ronaldo has made it clear that he will play in the 2026 World Cup if the team wants him, but there is no such guarantee for Messi. On the contrary, when Messi was asked about this, he said that time will tell, that is, the Copa America may come after the Copa America. Lionel Messi may announce his retirement. Lionel Messi has done quite well for clubs including Argentina in his long career and in recent times he has achieved everything for the team and he has nothing left to achieve. As he has nothing left to achieve for the team, it is only a matter of time before he decides to retire.

Both Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, after this World Cup, if they want to continue their careers as professional players, will have to review their positioning on the field, perhaps act more as a finishing center forward... mobility and agility deteriorate with age, so They have to use a little more positioning and finish plays towards the goal.

If they continue playing like they have throughout their careers, they will be easy targets for defenders.

I'm sure that we are going to see Messi in the 2026 World Cup because of his reputation in his country and because of the good performance he had in the Qatar World Cup which made Argentina to win the World Cup.
Other than this, Scaloni, the coach of Argentina said he would try to use Messi in the 2026 World Cup when they won the the Qatar World Cup.
However, since he is going to get even older I think Messi's playing in the World Cup will destroy his reputation because we can't see good performance from this player because of his age.