Simon: Ronaldo Still Dangerous Despite Past Prime
Spain goalkeeper Unai Simon warns that Cristiano Ronaldo remains a threat in the penalty area ahead of their 2026 World Cup knockout clash on July 7, despite the Portuguese star's decline from his peak years.
Spain goalkeeper Unai Simon stated that Cristiano Ronaldo, the Portuguese superstar, remains dangerous even though he is no longer at his peak. Spain will face Portugal in the 2026 World Cup Round of 16 on July 7 at 2:00 AM Thailand time. In recent comments, Simon discussed Ronaldo, saying: "He's not the same player he was six or seven years ago during his peak, but we must try our best to keep him away from the penalty area as much as possible." "Inside the box, he can create chances for himself. With his experience, he understands exactly what he needs to do. He likes to stay near the penalty spot and reads those situations very well." Simon also addressed issues Spain needs to correct from their recent UEFA Nations League match against Portugal, which they lost on penalties. "We didn't play smoothly. Their pressure was very intense. If we get eliminated, I hope it's because they played better than us, not because we failed to reach our level."
