With just two club matches remaining for Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo this season, all efforts and attention will soon be shifted to the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
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Ronaldo, unsurprisingly, was named to Portugal's provisional 30 man roster on Monday. Head coach Paulo Bento expects him to be fit ahead of the UEFA Champions League final and World Cup (h/t to Marca). "We believe that he'll arrive in good shape", Bento said in an interview.
"At the moment, we just need to see how things go and see what state he'll arrive in," he added.
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"Then we'll do the best we can to manage his condition."
With a healthy, hungry and fit Ronaldo in Brazil, Portugal will remain one of the favorites to advance past the group stages and into the knockout rounds. They're not, however, favorites to win it all according to the reigning FIFA Ballon d'Or winner. That esteemed title—at least according to Ronaldo—is reserved for the likes of Spain, Brazil, but perhaps more surprisingly, Lionel Messi's Argentina (h/t to the Guardian). '[Portugal] must take it one game at a time," he said.
"Nothing is impossible in football. The strongest teams are Spain, Brazil, France, Italy, Argentina," he added.
"Any team could go on and win it, but the two big favorites are Spain and Brazil."
For all his accolades at the club level, Ronaldo is yet to make a lasting impact internationally. Just don't expect that to be enough to heap pressure on the 28-year-old. "I won't be putting myself under any pressure," he continued.
"I don't have to prove anything to anyone. I've spent many years playing at the highest level."
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