FIFA WC 2026: Portugal can do for Ronaldo what Argentina did for Messi, says Paul Masefield
Synopsis
Veteran English commentator Paul Masefield is calling it: Portugal win the 2026 World Cup. His reasoning — that a squad can elevate itself to deliver a title for an ageing icon — is backed by the most recent precedent in the sport. Whether Ronaldo can script a Qatar 2022 of his own is the tournament's most compelling subplot.
Key Takeaways
Paul Masefield , expert panellist for ZEE5 's FIFA World Cup 2026 coverage, has picked Portugal as his tournament winner.
He drew a direct parallel with Argentina 's 2022 campaign, saying Portugal's players could unite around Cristiano Ronaldo as his likely final World Cup.
Portugal have qualified for the World Cup finals nine times but have never won the tournament; their best finish is third place in 1966 .
Masefield praised England head coach Thomas Tuchel for building team cohesion but does not expect the Three Lions to win the tournament.
England 's only World Cup title came in 1966 — 60 years ago — with semi-final exits in 1990 and 2018 their best subsequent results.
Former English footballer and commentator Paul Masefield has backed Portugal as his pick to win the FIFA World Cup 2026, arguing that the squad could unite around Cristiano Ronaldo in the same way Argentina galvanised behind Lionel Messi during their title-winning run in Qatar 2022.
Masefield's Bold Portugal Pick
Masefield, part of the expert commentary panel for ZEE5's FIFA World Cup 2026 coverage, said Portugal's combination of depth, experience, and emotional motivation sets them apart from the field. 'If I look player-for-player, team-for-team, the groups and everything, it may shock and surprise a few people, but I'm going to Portugal,' he said.
He drew a direct parallel with Argentina's 2022 campaign, in which the squad appeared to collectively lift their performance in service of delivering Messi his long-awaited world title. 'Ronaldo is finally going to end his wait in the last World Cup. The players are going to do what the Argentinian team did for Messi in the last edition of the competition,' Masefield said.
The Ronaldo Factor
Masefield described the FIFA World Cup 2026 as almost certainly Ronaldo's final appearance on the sport's biggest stage, lending the campaign an emotional charge that could translate into collective performance. 'Messi had never won the World Cup, and the team galvanised around him. It was a magnificent performance from him in the final, and they gave him a World Cup as a going-away present. He's still here for another one, but this is definitely the last song for Ronaldo,' he added.
Portugal have qualified for the FIFA World Cup finals nine times, including the 2026 edition, but have never lifted the trophy. Their best finish remains a third-place result at the 1966 tournament. Their most recent campaign, in Qatar 2022, ended at the quarter-final stage.
England's Prospects Under Tuchel
Masefield also assessed England's chances under head coach Thomas Tuchel, crediting the German manager with instilling greater collective structure into the side. 'Thomas Tuchel has turned around, and what he's done is he's got himself a team rather than certain individuals that can have creativity and flair, and I think that can help in itself,' he said.
However, Masefield stopped short of tipping England to go all the way. 'Will they go on to win the World Cup? I personally don't think it's England's time. I'd like to see them get through to the latter stages of the competition, but for me, I don't think you can look past the likes of Portugal and France. I think Spain haven't done themselves any favours,' he added.
England's Long Wait for Glory
England's sole major international title remains the 1966 FIFA World Cup, won on home soil — now 60 years ago. In the decades since, they have reached the semi-finals twice, in 1990 and 2018, but have not progressed further. The 2026 edition represents another opportunity to end that drought, though Masefield's assessment suggests the Three Lions face stiff competition from Portugal and France in particular.
With the tournament set to be hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, the stage is set for what could be a defining chapter in both Ronaldo's legacy and Portugal's World Cup history.
Point of View
But football history is less kind to the narrative. Argentina in 2022 were a genuinely complete squad — defence, midfield, and a Messi operating at peak. Portugal's depth is real, yet their quarter-final exit in Qatar exposed tactical fragility once Ronaldo was managed down. The Messi parallel flatters the comparison: Argentina had a system; Portugal have a symbol. Whether Tuchel's England are truly out of contention is also debatable — the manager's record at club level in knockout football is formidable, and a structured England side may be more dangerous than Masefield allows.
NationPress
12 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Paul Masefield and why is his FIFA World Cup 2026 prediction significant?
Paul Masefield is a former English footballer and commentator serving as an expert panellist for ZEE5's FIFA World Cup 2026 coverage. His prediction that Portugal will win the tournament is notable because he draws on the Argentina-Messi precedent from Qatar 2022 to argue that a squad can deliver a title for an iconic player in his final World Cup.
Why does Paul Masefield think Portugal can win FIFA World Cup 2026?
Masefield believes Portugal's squad depth, quality, and emotional motivation — centred on what is expected to be Cristiano Ronaldo's final World Cup — could drive a collective performance similar to Argentina's title run in Qatar 2022. He argues the players will 'galvanise around Ronaldo' and carry him deep into the competition.
What is Portugal's best-ever FIFA World Cup result?
Portugal's best finish at the FIFA World Cup is third place, achieved at the 1966 tournament in England. They have qualified for the finals nine times, including 2026, but have never won the title. Their most recent campaign in Qatar 2022 ended at the quarter-final stage.
What did Paul Masefield say about England's chances at the 2026 World Cup?
Masefield praised head coach Thomas Tuchel for building a more cohesive team but said he does not believe it is England's time to win the World Cup. He expects Portugal and France to be stronger contenders, while also noting that Spain have not done themselves favours.
When did England last win the FIFA World Cup?
England won the FIFA World Cup in 1966, on home soil — their only major international title. In the 60 years since, their best results have been semi-final exits in 1990 and 2018.
