José Mourinho backs England and Portugal as World Cup favourites

Speaking on the Beast Mode On Podcast, José Mourinho backed Cristiano Ronaldo and his native Portugal to stake a serious claim for World Cup glory, while ranking England among the favourites. Having recently returned to Real Madrid for a second spell at the Bernabeu, he also explained why he is hoping to see Madrid's star names suffer early exits from FIFA's flagship event in North America.

Some prominent 'Galacticos' form part of the nations expected to be there or thereabouts. Jude Bellingham is filling the No.10 role for England, Kylian Mbappe has become France's all-time leading goalscorer and Vinicius Junior has helped to fire Brazil into the last-32 with relative ease.

They are all aiming for the ultimate prize, alongside Ronaldo — who has made history by scoring at a sixth World Cup — and Lionel Messi, the competition's all-time leading goalscorer. Mourinho told Adebayo Akinfenwa: "They should [go all the way and win the World Cup].

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