Cristiano Ronaldo has heard enough doubts across his career to know what usually follows. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has now given Portugal another one before the 2026 World Cup.
A clip shared on X framed Mamdani as predicting Portugal will not go the distance. That is the kind of line that will travel because Ronaldo remains the face of this team.
But the prediction feels too narrow. Portugal can still be judged through Ronaldo, yet Roberto Martinez has a squad with enough quality to make that view look dated.
Photo by Harry Langer/DeFodi Images via Getty Images
Martinez has named Cristiano Ronaldo in Portugal's squad, and that still matters. He has 226 caps and 143 goals, and is set for a sixth World Cup at 41.
Still, this is not a one-man case. Portugal's squad goes well beyond Ronaldo, with Ruben Dias , Bernardo Silva , Vitinha , Nuno Mendes , Joao Neves , Joao Felix and Goncalo Ramos all included.
That is why writing Portugal off feels risky. A team with that spine should not be reduced to one famous forward, even when that forward is the most famous player in the tournament.
Mamdani is on firmer ground when the subject moves away from Portugal and towards access. His office announced 1,000 World Cup tickets for New Yorkers at $50 each , which speaks to a real concern.
There has also been scrutiny of FIFA ticketing, and that debate should not be brushed aside. Fans have every right to question whether the World Cup is drifting away from ordinary supporters.
So the verdict is split. Mamdani has a stronger point on ticket prices than on Portugal's ceiling, because Ronaldo may not like the prediction, but Martinez's squad has the depth to answer it.
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