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Brazil will win the World Cup, Ronaldo tells Sports Village Square

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DOHA, QATAR – NOVEMBER 26: Ibikunle Solaja is presented with a World Cup replica trophy, in recognition of their achievement of covering 8 or more FIFA World Cups, by FIFA Legend Ronaldo during an AIPS / FIFA Journalist on the Podium ceremony at the Main Media Centre on November 29, 2022 in Doha, Qatar. (Photo by Brendan Moran/FIFA)
Virtual Stadium, Main Media Centre, Doha, Qatar

Latching on the brief moment of receiving the replica of the World Cup trophy from Brazilian soccer legend,  Luís Nazário de Lima, during the Journalist on the Podium event on Tuesday, Sports Village Square journalist promptly put a question to the legend: “…a quick one please, who will win this World Cup?”

He smiled, “Brazil of course…”  Ronaldo added that he would not know who the opponents (losers) would be, but Brazil will win.

The five-time World Cup winners are one of the early qualifiers for the next round after their defeat of Switzerland on Monday.

Ronaldo was an unused substitute when Brazil won the cup in 1994 for the fourth time. He played a prominent role in their fifth win 20 years ago in the Korea/Japan.

At the next World Cup in Germany, he became the 20th player to score in three editions of World Cup and also equalled the all-time World Cup scoring record of 14 helld by Gerd Muller.

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Ronaldo had scored  at France ‘98, Korea/Japan 2002 and Germany 2006. He later broke Muller’s record in the Round of 16 when he scored a goal against Ghana to bring his tally to 15.

Kunle Solaja is the author of landmark books on sports and journalism as well as being a multiple award-winning journalist and editor of long standing. He is easily Nigeria’s foremost soccer diarist and Africa's most capped FIFA World Cup journalist, having attended all FIFA World Cup finals from Italia ’90 to Qatar 2022. He was honoured at the Qatar 2022 World Cup by FIFA and AIPS.

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