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Dias refuses to rule out Ronaldo, Messi and Modric playing beyond 2026 World Cup

Manchester City defender Rúben Dias has pushed back on the idea that the 2026 World Cup will be the final tournament for Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Luka Modric, saying simply 'let's see' when asked about their international futures.

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Dias refuses to rule out Ronaldo, Messi and Modric playing beyond 2026 World Cup
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Rúben Dias has declined to confirm that the 2026 World Cup will be the last for Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Luka Modric, responding to questions about the veterans’ international futures with a measured ‘let’s see’ in an interview with Portuguese outlet A Bola.

The Manchester City centre-back was asked whether this summer’s tournament — which kicks off on June 17 — would serve as the final global stage for three of the sport’s defining figures. Rather than accepting the narrative of a collective swansong, Dias left the door open, before turning his focus to what winning the trophy would mean for Portugal and their captain.

‘It would be a pleasure for all of us to be able to provide that moment to him, to ourselves, to all of Portugal, to our families,’ Dias said. ‘It does not represent extra pressure, it represents, yes, an even more special desire to be part of [the World Cup] and to get there to win.’

The World Cup is the only major title Ronaldo, now 41, has not won. The Al-Nassr forward holds five Ballon d’Or awards, five UEFA Champions League titles, and led Portugal to Euro 2016 glory, but the sport’s most prestigious international prize has eluded him throughout a career spanning more than two decades.

Messi, 38, arrives in the United States as defending champion after Argentina’s triumph in Qatar in 2022. The Inter Miami forward holds a record eight Ballon d’Or awards alongside two Copa America titles and four Champions League crowns. Modric, 40, now at AC Milan, claimed his solitary Ballon d’Or in 2018 — breaking the Ronaldo-Messi duopoly — and won six Champions League medals during his time at Real Madrid.

Between them, the three players share 14 Ballon d’Or awards, and all three face demanding group-stage campaigns. Defending champions Argentina open against Algeria, Austria and Jordan, while Modric’s Croatia face England, Panama and Ghana. Portugal begin their tournament against DR Congo on June 17, before meeting Uzbekistan on June 23 and Colombia on June 27.

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