Cristiano Ronaldo Insists Missing Out on World Cup Success Won't 'Define' Legacy

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Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo insists his football legacy will not be "defined" by whether he matches Lionel Messi's success at the World Cup. The Al-Nassr star appears to have performed a U-turn based on his latest interview, after initially claiming it would be a "dream" to lift the famous trophy before retiring. However, the icon has now insisted it does not matter what happens at next summer's tournament.

Comparisons between two football legends in Ronaldo and Lionel Messi continue to be drawn despite both now being in the latter stages of their careers. The former is still seeking a first title in Saudi Arabia with Al-Nassr, while the latter is spending his twilight years at David Beckham's Inter Miami in the United States. Many fans point to the Argentina playmaker as the true GOAT of the sport after he lifted the World Cup with Argentina in 2022, but Ronaldo insists his career cannot be judged on whether he manages to win on the global stage.

In a preview for the second half of his interview on Piers Morgan Unsensored, which will be released on Thursday, the 40-year-old striker said: "If you ask me, ‘Cristiano, is it a dream to win the World Cup?’ No, it's not a dream. Define what? To define if I'm one of the best in history, to win one competition, [of] six games, seven games. You think it's fair?"

Ronaldo's quotes may come as a surprise to some after his previous words on the World Cup. The former Manchester United and Real Madrid star has been on record admitting how much it would mean to him to win the competition. After Portugal were dumped out of the 2022 tournament by Morocco in the quarter-finals, Ronaldo posted on Instagram: "Winning a World Cup for Portugal was the biggest and