Former England defender Danny Mills believes Cristiano Ronaldo is unlikely to still be playing for Portugal at the 2030 FIFA World Cup, warning that the veteran forward is only one serious injury away from retirement.
Speaking to betTOM, Mills argued that it would be difficult to justify selecting a 45-year-old Ronaldo in Portugal’s starting lineup four years from now. Instead, he suggested the five-time Ballon d’Or winner could remain with the national team in a coaching or player-manager capacity.
“Unless Cristiano Ronaldo becomes the player-coach for Portugal at the next World Cup, I can’t see him playing,” Mills said.
“I’m not sure you can justify starting Ronaldo for Portugal in four years’ time. He’s one injury away from being done because the body doesn’t recover or heal anywhere near as well once you’re in your 40s.”
Despite his doubts about Ronaldo’s playing future, Mills believes the Portuguese legend will continue to have a role within the national team.
“He’ll be involved in one way or another in 2030, but I think it’s unrealistic to imagine him still being in the starting XI,” he added.
Mills also questioned whether Portugal’s current squad would fully embrace a team built around Ronaldo, unlike Argentina’s setup around Lionel Messi.
“There’s no doubt he’s one of the greatest footballers ever and his achievements speak for themselves. But Portugal have several big personalities, and I’m not convinced they would all buy into playing entirely for Ronaldo in the same way Argentina have rallied around Lionel Messi,” he said.
Ronaldo, however, continues to defy expectations despite concerns over his age.
The 41-year-old made history at the 2026 FIFA World Cup by becoming the first male player to score in six different editions of the tournament.
After facing criticism following a subdued performance in Portugal’s opening match, Ronaldo responded emphatically by scoring twice in his side’s commanding 5-0 victory over Uzbekistan in the group stage.
Portugal will now face Colombia in a decisive Group K clash, with Ronaldo widely expected to lead the attack once again as he continues to extend his remarkable international career.
