Former Tottenham and Sporting Lisbon midfielder Pedro Mendes has spoken on Cristiano Ronaldo’s future with the Portugal side.

Ronaldo, who recently turned 41 years old, spoke on his chances at featuring at the 2030 World Cup despite many reports claiming this summer’s competition could be his last.

“I haven’t completely ruled out the possibility of playing in the 2030 World Cup. If I keep scoring every week at 41, maybe I could play for another four years.”

Meanwhile, Ronaldo’s former manager Mourinho has delivered a strong season with Benfica but is reportedly unhappy at the side as he seeks to leave at the end of the campaign.

Speaking to Thunderpick, Mendes revealed that Ronaldo could stay for the 2030 competition where he would be 45 years old, as long as Mourinho is handed the opportunity.

“Would Cristiano Ronaldo carry on for Portugal if Jose Mourinho got the job? I think it’s up to Cristiano if he wants to carry on. I think he has the power to decide if he wants to keep playing for the national team or not.

“But the relationship between a manager and a player in the national team is completely different to the relationship between a manager and a player at a club. It’s not that daily work and the tensions are every week, week in, week out games. So, let’s see. It’s still a little bit early.

“But they go along well, you know, they have a good relationship. So I can’t see any issue if Mourinho joins the national team. I can’t see any issue with it.”

Mourinho is under contract with Benfica until June 2027, meaning until the end of next season. He could depart in the next few years, take up another job and still become Portugal boss ahead of the next World Cup where Ronaldo may still be competing as he continues to defy the age barrier.

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has spoken to the media as he prepares to take on Sporting in the Champions League.

Arsenal slumped to a shock 2-1 defeat at home to Bournemouth in the Premier League and will be hoping to bounce back on Wednesday night as they welcome Sporting to North London.

Arteta’s men left it late to grab a 1-0 win at the Estadio Jose Alvalade last week thanks to a Kai Havertz finish and will now aim to defend that narrow lead in front of their home fans.

Speaking first on the defeat to the Cherries, Arteta revealed how his side can climb back from their poor run of form which has put a real dent in the title race against Manchester City.

“The players need perspective on where they are in the Champions League and the Premier League.

“We need to embrace that, and the higher you are, the bumpier it gets. I am more demanding, and the line is thinner between being the best and the worst, and you have to cope with that.”

On whether some of his motivation is to prove doubters wrong: “The motivation is to give the people who deserve it what they are looking for. It’s not for the rest.

“The energy is on these people because they are the ones who deserve it.

The UEFA has dismissed a complaint filed by FC Barcelona regarding a refereeing decision in their UEFA Champions League quarter-final first leg against Atlético de Madrid.

The match was played on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, while the protest was formally submitted by Barcelona on April 13, 2026.

In an official statement on Tuesday, UEFA confirmed that the matter was reviewed by its disciplinary authorities before being thrown out.

“Following Champions League quarter-final first leg played on Wednesday 8 April 2026 between FC Barcelona and Atlético de Madrid, Barcelona filed a protest relating to a referee decision on 13 April 2026, the UEFA Control Ethics and Disciplinary Body declared the protest to be inadmissible,” the statement read.

UEFA did not provide additional details regarding the specific incident that prompted Barcelona’s protest, nor did it indicate any further review of the match officials’ performance.

The decision effectively closes the case at disciplinary level, leaving the match result and officiating decisions unchanged.

Both clubs are expected to continue preparations for the second leg of the tie under normal competition procedures.