Spain head coach Luis de la Fuente has admitted he would rather not face Cristiano Ronaldo when his side takes on Portugal in the FIFA World Cup Round of 16, describing the veteran forward as one of the greatest players in football history.
Spain and Portugal will meet in a highly anticipated knockout clash at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, with Ronaldo expected to lead the Portuguese attack despite confirming that the 2026 tournament will be the last World Cup of his career.
Speaking ahead of the match, De la Fuente praised the 41-year-old’s longevity and competitive spirit while acknowledging the threat he still poses.
De la Fuente said: “I admire Cristiano and people like him, with character and ambition. An example for everyone.
“With the talent and class he has, he can decide a game at any moment.
“I would prefer that he didn’t play, but I believe he will play and we will enjoy one of the best players in history and we will try to be superior to him and to them.”
The Spain coach dismissed suggestions that Ronaldo’s age has diminished his influence, insisting his players cannot afford to lose concentration against the Portugal captain.
He said: “With Cristiano, you can never be complacent.
“You can’t give these kinds of brilliant footballers any slack off, but I have confidence in our defenders.
“We’ll see who has more power in this battle; I believe we’ll control all these situations.”
The match could mark another significant chapter in Ronaldo’s international career after the Portugal captain confirmed earlier in the tournament that this will be his final FIFA World Cup.
Ronaldo has, however, insisted that his importance to the national team extends beyond his place in the starting line-up.
He said: “Whether I’m playing or not, I’ll always have an important role in this national team. I’ll finish when I want to, not when you want me to.”
Portugal will be seeking a place in the World Cup quarter-finals, while Spain will aim to end Ronaldo’s final World Cup journey with victory in the Iberian showdown.