Sir Alex Ferguson makes surprise Cristiano Ronaldo prediction that goes against his wishes

Sir Alex Ferguson and Cristiano Ronaldo have long shared a close bond in football. The Portuguese superstar was a key figure during the Scotsman’s latter years as Old Trafford manager.

Cristiano Ronaldo‘s name is often synonymous with two of the biggest clubs in world football: Real Madrid and Manchester United.

He is widely considered a legend of both teams, having won every trophy he could possibly get his hands on—including his first Champions League title under Sir Alex Ferguson.

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Under Sir Alex at United, Ronaldo turned from a skinny, talented winger to a fully-fledged world-beater, becoming one of only three players to win the Ballon d’Or while at United.

Ronaldo scored 118 goals and provided 62 assists during his 292 competitive ties under Sir Alex’s guidance, and the pair have regularly kept in touch since he left the club for La Liga in 2009.

Ronaldo, now 39 years old, plays his football in Saudi Arabia but still leads the line for Portugal and is part of their 2024 European Championships team that has clawed its way to the quarter-finals, albeit via some less-than-impressive performances.

While Ronaldo is still at this level at his age, many have wondered if this summer will be the final time fans see him compete in an international tournament—and Ronaldo himself has previously admitted that this will be his final European Championships.

However, Relevo has reported that, despite his sub-par performances this summer, Ronaldo is still aiming to play during the 2026 World Cup, which will be held in Canada, Mexico, and the United States.

But, when questioned about if he expects to see Ronaldo at the state-side tournament, Ferguson told SportBild (via Goal): “I can’t imagine that. Football will become even faster and more athletic in the coming years.

“In addition, the space for central strikers will become increasingly smaller. In contrast to defenders, it is more difficult for strikers to play at the highest level when they are older.”

However, Ferguson did add that he considers Ronaldo to be “one of the greatest players of all time” and doesn’t believe that the Portuguese international has anything more to prove.

“One or two more titles would not mean much to him,” said the former United manager. “Because he has had a unique career.”

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