- January 5, 2026
No Portugal! Ex-Uruguay Hero Reveals His 2026 World Cup Favourites: ‘Cristiano Isn’t…’
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Fernando Muslera names Uruguay, Argentina and Spain as FIFA World Cup favourites, preferring Lionel Messi over Cristiano Ronaldo.
Cristiano Ronaldo has reached 956 career goals. (AP Photo)
Former goalkeeper Fernando Muslera has said that the top three favourites to win the upcoming FIFA World Cup are Uruguay, Argentina and Spain, as he snubbed Brazil as well as Portugal from the top three, while adding that he prefers Lionel Messi over Cristiano Ronaldo.
Speaking to ESPN, Muslera expressed his happiness at seeing Messi lift the 2022 World Cup and said that he does not believe Ronaldo will achieve the same in his career.
Muslera named his FIFA World Cup favourites and backed Messi as the superior footballer over Ronaldo.
“The three candidates for the World Cup are Uruguay, Argentina and Spain. Brazil is one step below. I believe Cristiano isn’t going to win it. I’ve faced both him and Messi and the sensations are totally different,” Muslera said.
“I love ‘the little guy’ [Messi] and I hope he always stays at the top with that World Cup he won,” Muslera added.
Ronaldo has confirmed he will take part in this summer’s FIFA World Cup, having played a pivotal role in the qualifiers.
Unlike Ronaldo, Messi hasn’t yet decided whether he will play in the FIFA World Cup with Argentina. He plans to take his time before deciding, but has confirmed he will be in the stands supporting the team if he chooses to sit out.
At 40, Ronaldo’s ambition remains undiminished as he eyes one of the few records that still separates him from Messi. The upcoming FIFA World Cup could be a showdown for both stars and the ultimate stage to settle the debate over who is the greatest of all time.
The Messi-Ronaldo rivalry has long been defined by goals, titles and individual awards. Now, the focus shifts to a historic record, linked to age and the sport’s highest individual World Cup honour, set by Messi in Qatar 2022 and one Ronaldo still dreams of going past.
Messi became the oldest footballer to win the World Cup Golden Ball at 35 years after leading Argentina to the win. The Golden Ball is awarded to the FIFA World Cup’s best player and if Ronaldo puts up such a performance, he will break the record.
January 05, 2026, 12:44 IST
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