10 Players to Watch at the 2018 World Cup

Group B: Cristiano Ronaldo

Country: Portugal

Club Team: Real Madrid

Age: 33

The only thing missing from Cristiano Ronaldo's legendary career is a World Cup crown. He has won everything else, multiple times, and at the age of 33, there is a chance that this summer is his last opportunity to capture the crown jewel of international soccer.

After taking the title at the 2016 Euros, Portugal proved they are capable of winning a major international competition. Confidence is high, and Ronaldo himself is finally in excellent form after struggling at the start of the La Liga season.

In Group B, Ronaldo and Portugal will face Spain, Iran, and Morocco. After falling in the Group of Death at the 2014 World Cup, Portugal have an easier task ahead of them this time around. While Spain are obviously a massive obstacle, the Portuguese should be able to advance from the group in second place, at worst.

From there they would face the winner of Group A, which is one of only two groups without a team ranked inside the top 10 in the FIFA World Rankings. Therefore, our metrics give Portugal a 45.96% chance of reaching the Quarterfinals, the seventh-best odds in the tournament.

To go beyond that, Ronaldo will have to do what he has done for most of his career: take over games. With 81 international goals and 398 club goals, Ronaldo is one of the most prolific forwards in the history of the game. A World Cup title would see him stake his claim as the best player to ever play and cement a legacy that will last for generations.

No pressure.

What to Expect: