When you've had the kind of domestic and international success Nani has, you're allowed to play favorites.
The former Team Portugal star and four-time English Premier League champion likes his home country to make waves at the 2026 World Cup, hosted by cities in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. The Portuguese side is presently the co-No. 6 favorite in our latest World Cup odds, installed at +1100.
In a Covers exclusive, Nani shared his teams to watch, talked about what a World Cup win would mean to Cristiano Ronaldo, waxed nostalgic about his time in MLS and revealed who he thinks would be the perfect addition to the David Beckham-co-owned Inter Miami roster.
Key Takeaways
- Portugal contenders: Tips Portugal and Spain as "teams to watch" at the World Cup
- Ronaldo’s last dance: Winning in 2026 would be the “perfect ending” to his career
- USA’s potential: Says home advantage and Mauricio Pochettino’s leadership could lead to "something special"
- Messi’s MLS magic: Says the league "is built for superstars" and designed for attacking flair
- Neymar to the Sunshine State?: Calls Inter Miami “the perfect club” for Neymar: entertainment, teammates, and packed stadiums
Nani unbothered by Portugal's World Cup qualification "struggles"
Just how high are the standards for Portuguese football? The Seleção das Quinas have three wins and a draw in four World Cup qualification matches, all but punching their ticket to next year's main tournament – and still, Nani suggests they're not playing their best.
But he's not worried at all about his home team, telling Covers that things will be different when the games really matter.
"As I always say, when the competition starts, everything changes," he told Covers.
"You cannot evaluate from the qualification because the players and national teams play differently. When the World Cup starts, I believe you will see the teams and players with a different mindset, different focus, and a different attitude. I think Portugal will be much better than they are now. They will be prepared and play very well.
"But Spain as well, because they have talent. So, Spain and Portugal will both be teams to watch."
The Spanish side is the current World Cup favorite at +400, with France next at +650.
Will the World Cup be Ronaldo's swan song?
All eyes will be on global mega-star Cristiano Ronaldo, who looks to lead Portugal to its first World Cup title. He leads his qualification group with five goals, and with retirement expected soon, he'll be expected to bring his best to North America next June.
"I think this World Cup is very important for Cristiano Ronaldo," Nani told Covers. "If he can play and win, that will be the perfect end to his career. I think that will be the time he says, 'I'm happy, I'm retired now. I'll just drink my coffee and my tea and have peace. I don't want any more training sessions. I don't want anything to do with football.'
"He will give his best to help the country, as he's always been doing. I think he's motivated, you can see the way he's been playing. So I think it will be a great season for him as well, and then probably we'll have a chance. We've got a chance."
But Nani, who had 112 caps with the national team from 2006-17, knows CR7 can't do it alone.
"I think he needs the team to help," Nani said. "He needs to be connected with the team to help the team as well, because it's very important. He can score goals. His presence on the field and with the team is very important to help the team have the confidence to perform.
"All the players around him need to be at their best, because if all the players around him are at their best, with no problems in their heads, and then perform for him and help him to achieve his targets as well, and he does the same thing, I think we'll have a great chance."
Don't sleep on the co-host Americans
Soccer experts and oddsmakers alike aren't that optimistic about the chances of a U.S. World Cup triumph; the Americans are well down the odds list at +6500.
Nani isn't necessarily ready to crown the co-hosts as champs, but cites the presence of manager Mauricio Pochettino as a significant positive factor.
"It's always going to be hard for the United States against the big national teams," Nani told Covers. "But the fact they're playing home and have Mauricio Pochettino, a very experienced manager, can help them a lot. They can really perform well in some games. But motivation is the key for that competition.
"In the World Cups, in the European Cups, everything can happen for teams who normally are not strong or don't have so much quality in the squad. If they are together, the United States can do something special with Pochettino there."
Nani also cited American star Christian Pulisic as a key factor in the team's success next June.
"There will be pressure on Christian Pulisic," he said. "I think the fans always expect more from the top players and the stars from the national team. So I think there will be a little bit, but they know it's not about just one player, it's about a team."
Explosive Messi a perfect fit for Major League Soccer
With select U.S. cities serving as the backdrop for next year's global soccer showcase, Nani happily reminisced about his own time in America, having played for Major League Soccer's Orlando City from 2019-21.
With the league having grown by leaps and bounds in recent years – highlighted by the arrival of Argentine legend Lionel Messi – MLS has suddenly become a destination for players from around the world. And Nani says Messi and Inter Miami are a perfect fit.
"I'm not surprised to see the success Lionel Messi has had in the MLS, he's also a superstar," Nani told Covers. "When it comes to MLS, the league is built for superstars because they invest more in attacking players than defenders.
"The culture is to score goals, people are in the stadium to see goals, not the defending side. So it's natural that when Messi is there, with his quality and talent, he will shine and score goals. You just need to enjoy it. I'm really happy for him as well."
Nani went on to say that he would have loved to play alongside Messi.
"I think he is one of the greatest in football history, and what he continues to do is special," Nani said. "Obviously, if I had the opportunity to play alongside him, it would be something extra for my career."
Should Neymar join Messi, Beckham in Miami?
While Messi and his one-time Barcelona teammate Luis Suarez have taken their talents to South Beach, still missing is the third member of that dominant Barca triumvirate from the mid-2010s (no offense to Jordi Alba or Sergio Busquets, ex-Barca stars also playing for Miami but who are both retiring at the end of the MLS season).
Yet, recent rumors have linked Neymar to Inter Miami, and Nani says the pairing of the Brazilian wizard and the David Beckham-co-owned MLS franchise is a perfect match.
"Neymar is an entertainer, he's a showman," Nani acknowledged. "So I think it would be great for him to go to MLS with Inter Miami. I think at this moment, it's the perfect league for him. I think he would make the fans happy, and make the stadiums full.”
As for Beckham, Nani credits the one-time England superstar with being an even greater asset off the field.
"David Beckham was a fantastic player, he had an amazing career, and on the marketing side, he was the first to teach other players how to manage their brands," Nani told Covers.
"Today, he's doing great with Inter Miami. He's bringing top world-class players to the team, building a strong team. It's something you cannot explain, it's a gift he has to manage things his way, and everything he does becomes perfect."
