As Spain gears up for their crucial match against Portugal in the Round of 16 at the 2026 World Cup, goalkeeper Unai Simon has taken the time to highlight the strengths of Cristiano Ronaldo. Despite acknowledging that Ronaldo is no longer at his peak, Simon insists that the Portuguese superstar remains a significant threat on the field.

In a press conference prior to the match, Simon stated, "Cristiano Ronaldo is not the player he once was, but Spain must prevent him from entering the penalty area. He has proven his ability to be a game-changer, as seen in the recent Nations League final." Simon noted that Ronaldo's current strength lies in his capacity to create numerous scoring opportunities, making him a player that cannot be underestimated.

Ronaldo has already scored three goals in the ongoing World Cup, showcasing his knack for finding the net even in his later years. Simon remarked, "I don’t know how to contain Ronaldo, so we must prepare for every situation and keep him as far from the penalty area as possible." This match marks a significant encounter, as Spain is coming off a 3-0 victory against Austria, while Portugal had a challenging comeback against Croatia, winning 2-1.

Unai Simon has also been impressive in the tournament, having gone 519 consecutive minutes without conceding a goal in World Cup matches. The last goal he allowed was from Ao Tanaka during Spain's group stage match against Japan in the 2022 World Cup.

Looking ahead to the match, Simon expressed hope that Spain could maintain their current form all the way to the finals, but he emphasized that each game presents its own challenges. "We need to focus on our performance, remembering that Portugal defeated us in the Nations League. Spain must play exceptionally well and reach the level we all aspire to," he concluded.