Ronaldo, 41, brushes off aging concerns: 'Haven't you watched my games?'

Cristiano Ronaldo, the 41-year-old Al Nassr forward preparing to wear Portugal's jersey at a record-tying sixth World Cup, says he has no concerns about his fitness.

With Portugal's group-stage opener approaching, Ronaldo flew with his teammates Friday to Palm Beach, Florida, where the squad has set up its training camp for the 2026 North America World Cup.

Speaking to local reporters that day, Ronaldo pushed back on questions about physical decline with a laugh. "I'm very good physically — haven't you watched my games?" he said, according to ESPN and other US sports outlets.

Born in February 1985, Ronaldo stands on the verge of matching the all-time record of six World Cup appearances, a milestone that may mark his final tournament. Should he score in this edition, he would set a new record of finding the net in six consecutive World Cups.

Ronaldo also expressed strong confidence in Portugal's preparations for their Group K opener against the Democratic Republic of Congo on Wednesday. "We've been training hard, so we're tired, but it's been a great preparation process," he said.

He added that while Portugal had controlled their recent friendlies, the real test lies ahead. "The most important thing is when the real ball starts rolling in the first match," he said. "When the pressure truly rises — that's when you'll see who the real champion is."

Ronaldo failed to score in either of Portugal's two pre-tournament friendlies, against Chile and Nigeria.