Cristiano Ronaldo under the spotlight after remarks from Portugal star ahead of Nations League game

Cristiano Ronaldo recently celebrated his 40th birthday but remains one of the elite figures in world soccer. This Thursday, during the March international break, he will lead Portugal in a decisive quarterfinal clash against Denmark in the UEFA Nations League. In this context, one of his teammates discussed a key objective the team has for the legendary forward.

“It’s complicated to find new words to describe Cristiano,” Diogo Dalot said during a press conference on Tuesday. “For me and for everyone in the national team, it is an honor and a privilege to continue sharing moments with him, learning from his experience, and absorbing his knowledge of the game.”

Discussing the team’s medium-term ambitions, the Manchester United full-back emphasized their desire to support Ronaldo in his quest for additional trophies. “It would be amazing to see him win more titles with Portugal. I think all of us in the team would want to be alongside him when that happens,” Dalot remarked.

Dalot’s clear vision for Portugal’s success

Given Portugal’s strong performance during the opening phase of the UEFA Nations League, there is growing excitement about the team’s potential and its future. Many have even predicted this could be the most important generation in the country’s soccer history. However, Dalot is clear about where the team’s focus must lie.

Cristiano Ronaldo and Diogo Dalot celebrate Portugal’s second goal during the UEFA Nations League match against Scotland on September 8, 2024.

“If there’s one thing I’ve learned in soccer, it’s that those who win are remembered,” the defender asserted. “It’s relative to say whether we’re the best generation ever, but if I ask you who won Euro 2016, you’ll probably remember most of the players from that squad. Or the Nations League title.”

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Dalot then provided a direct message: “If we want to be remembered as the best Portuguese team, we have to win. If we can’t materialize that in results and trophies, it will be difficult to compare with other generations. We have a lot of quality, talent, but we have to get results.”

Portugal face a major challenge ahead

After advancing from Group 1 of the UEFA Nations League with four wins and two draws, Portugal will visit Denmark at the Parken Stadion in Copenhagen this Thursday for the first leg of the quarterfinals. The team will aim to secure a positive result before returning home for the decisive second leg on Sunday.

However, the challenge will not be easy, as Denmark finished second in their group behind Spain during the previous phase. “We know we will face a tough team,” Dalot said. “But we have enough talent and quality to fight for the trophy again.”