Ronaldo can (one day) retire with peace of mind: Portugal win U-17 World Cup
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Reading Time: 2min | Fri. 28.11.25. | 14:59
In less than six months, the Navigators' golden generation became both the U-17 European and World Champions, proving that the future of Portuguese football is bright
Cristiano Ronaldo is 40 and, naturally, isn't getting any younger. Even though he still "shyly" talks about his retirement - which will most likely happen after the 2026 FIFA World Cup - CR7 does not have to worry about the future of Portuguese football, as it's as bright as it gets.
Less than six months after winning the U-17 European Championship, Portugal's golden generation was crowned the U-17 World Champion yesterday, becoming only the second national team to unite the two titles, alongside Germany two years ago!
🏆 CHAMPION D'EUROPE U17
— Instant Foot ⚽️ (@lnstantFoot) November 27, 2025
🏆 CHAMPION DU MONDE U17
LA GÉNÉRATION 2008 DU PORTUGAL EST EXTRAORDINAIRE ! 🇵🇹🤩 pic.twitter.com/Y1IiRYWmCZ
The young Navigators finished second in their respective group, behind Japan - which handed them their only defeat in the tournament - but shifted into a higher gear once the knockout phase began, conceding just one goal in five "do-or-die" matches they played.
The only crew that broke the Portuguese deadlock was Belgium in the Round of 32 (2-1). Afterwards, the head coach Bino's boys brushed aside Mexico (5-0), Switzerland (2-0), Brazil (6-5 on penalties after a goalless draw), and Austria in the grand final (1-0). The utmost hero was the striker Anisio Cabral, who netted the 32nd-minute winner, scoring his seventh goal in the tournament.
🇵🇹 Portugal’s World Cup Winning Goal 🏆🎥 pic.twitter.com/oJBekOSNW3
— ThePortugueseXI (@PortugalFPF) November 27, 2025
In the winning team, Mateus Mide - of whom we'll undoubtedly hear more very soon - won the Golden Ball, the aforementioned Cabral won the Silver Boot as the second-best scorer, and Romario Cunha was named the best goalkeeper, winning the Golden Glove.
This was the third world title for Portugal, as they won back-to-back U-20 World Cups in 1989 and 1991.
As for the African representatives in the U-17 WC - and there were as many as ten - Morocco and Burkina Faso were the most successful, reaching the quarter-finals, Mali and Uganda were knocked out in the Round of 16, South Africa, Senegal, Tunisia, Zambia, and Egypt were eliminated on the first step of the knockout phase, while the Ivory Coast were the only team from the "mother continent" to end the competition in the group stage.
