Today's Talking Points
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1Cristiano Ronaldo is at his sixth World Cup, matching Messi's record — at 41 he is by far the oldest outfield player at the tournament and is clearly driven by the fact that Messi won it in 2022 and he hasn't.
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2Portugal have one of the most talented squads in the tournament beyond Ronaldo — Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva and Rafael Leão give them real depth, and there's a genuine argument that they'd be stronger if Ronaldo played less.
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3They're in Group K with DR Congo, Uzbekistan and Colombia — Colombia are a good side and capable of an upset, but Portugal should progress, with the knockout rounds where the real test begins.
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4Portugal have never won a World Cup — their best finish was third in 1966 when Eusébio was the tournament's top scorer. For all the quality they've had since, they've never gone the distance.
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5Their manager Roberto Martínez was previously Belgium manager and took them to the top of the world rankings without winning a major trophy — whether he can take the final step with Portugal is the question that defines his career.
🍺 Top Thing To Say Down The Pub
Ronaldo is 41 and playing his sixth World Cup, the same as Messi. He absolutely cannot let Messi have the last laugh on this one.
🚫 Avoid Saying
"Ronaldo or Messi?" — we've been here for fifteen years. Pick a side or don't, but whoever you're talking to at the pub will have heard this conversation approximately a thousand times.