Silva - Ronaldo could win us matches at Qatar World Cup

Bernardo Silva believes that Cristiano Ronaldo is getting even better, and expects him to be ready for the 2022 Qatar World Cup.

As well as winning the Champions League, Ronaldo scored 44 goals in 44 appearances for Real Madrid last season.

He has carried his form into the World Cup, scoring a hat-trick against Spain in their first World Cup game, including a late equalising free kick to seal a 3-3 draw. The hat-trick made Ronaldo the fourth player in World Cup history to score in four different World Cups.

The first came fro a penalty against Iran in 2006, but Silva believes that another in Qatar in four years is not out of the question. Silva said:

‘Some players are fading at his age, that would be normal.

‘But he is not. He is getting better and better and I hope he will keep up this form over the next few games.

‘He is used to these kind of nights, with Portugal, Real Madrid and Manchester United, a few years ago. He has been amazing over more than 10 years.

‘More important than his physical form is his mental form. He has an incredible mind and incredible physical endurance. Even at 3-2 down, he was the one who raised the team and went on with absolute trust. That is innate but also he plays in great teams and is always in finals and that gives him a very different perspective. It’s great to have someone like that.’

READ MORE: Salah poised to derail hosts’ juggernaut

READ MORE: Neuer, Ozil start for Germany in World Cup opener

READ MORE: Japan’s Kawashima eager to right wrongs of 2014

While Ronaldo used to be a threatening winger or wide forward, cutting in from the sidelines into the middle of the pitch, he is now something of a more traditional striker. In his current form, Silva thinks that he remains a matchwinner:

‘When he is playing like this anything is possible.

‘You just give him the ball and he makes things happen.’

The Manchester City playmaker also believes that the country are under more pressure following their Euro 2016 success, claiming that their opponents expect more from them when they meet:

‘There is a little bit more pressure on us because we are European champions. Other teams look at us in a different way since we won it.’