World Cup 2026: Is Ronaldo Losing the Spotlight to Messi, Mbappé and Haaland?
I can’t help but wonder if the 2026 World Cup has come a few years too late for Cristiano Ronaldo. While he prepares for his sixth finals, the tournament’s brightest moments are falling to the new generation. At 38, Messi delivered a stunning hat-trick and still seems driven to rewrite history. Mbappé has become France’s all-time leading scorer and shows no sign of slowing. Haaland announced himself with two goals on debut and reminded us why he’s one of Europe’s most feared strikers. In contrast, Ronaldo hasn’t found the net at a major international tournament since 2022 and his last open-play goal came in Euro 2020. Portugal now rely on other rising stars as much as on their veteran icon. Perhaps Ronaldo’s greatest achievement at this World Cup will be simply proving that longevity at the top level is possible. But right now, it feels like Messi’s farewell magic, Mbappé’s record chase and Haaland’s arrival are stealing the show.
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