Published on 4 June 2026

Manchester United defender Diogo Dalot has spoken about his aspirations for the upcoming FIFA World Cup during a recent interview. The Portuguese right-back, who has been a consistent presence for the Red Devils over the past few seasons, has managed to stay integral to the squad through multiple managerial changes.

Now one of the senior figures in the team, the 27-year-old is coming off a solid season. Dalot began the campaign as a wing-back under former head coach Ruben Amorim, before shifting to a traditional right-back position following Michael Carrick’s appointment.

Throughout the season, Dalot contributed one goal and three assists across 36 matches in all competitions, starting 31 of them.

With the club campaign wrapped up, the Portuguese full-back is now turning his attention towards representing his country in the much-awaited 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Speaking at UBBO during a Sport Zone and Puma event, as reported by A Bola, Dalot shared his lifelong ambition. He said, “I have a few dreams, and becoming world champion is one of them.”

He continued, “To make that dream come true, we know we need to work hard. We still have three matches ahead of us, which is our immediate focus. After that, we will take it one game at a time until the final, if possible. Winning remains our ultimate target.”

Dalot added, “I believe we have the quality to achieve this. These tournaments are never easy, and history shows that Portugal has never won a World Cup. We want to accomplish something that has never been done before, but we must stay humble and continue working hard to make it happen.”

Having previously expressed his admiration for Cristiano Ronaldo, Dalot mentioned that sharing the pitch with the legendary forward is a source of pride. “Every Portuguese person feels proud to be represented by a player like Cristiano,” he said.

“Being part of the squad and getting the chance to play alongside him is another proud moment for me. I don’t know if this will be his last World Cup, but I hope it goes well. For everything he has already done for our country, he truly deserves to win.”

Dalot also reflected on his time under Ruben Amorim, who had a difficult 14-month spell at Old Trafford before being dismissed in January. “Of course, I would have liked things to go better,” he said. “The results were not what either we or Ruben had hoped for.”

“I wish him all the best in his next challenge. I’ll continue to support him, just like many other Portuguese fans.”

Following Amorim’s departure, Michael Carrick took over as interim manager and guided United to an impressive run of 12 victories and only two defeats in 17 matches, securing a third-place finish in the Premier League and earning the permanent role.

Dalot expressed satisfaction with the season’s conclusion and shared his optimism for the future. “I’m happy that we finished the season strongly, qualifying for the Champions League, which was our main goal. Now, let’s see what next season brings,” he remarked.

Looking ahead to the World Cup, Dalot revealed one more personal target. “Scoring for the national team is always special, and doing it in a tournament like the World Cup would be a dream. I definitely have that goal—to help Portugal in the best way possible, and if that’s by scoring, I’ll do everything I can to make it happen.”

So far, Dalot has made 33 appearances for Portugal, recording three goals and three assists, all of his goals coming in the UEFA Nations League. His only three World Cup appearances came in 2022 in Qatar, where he featured in the quarter-final defeat to Morocco.

Dalot’s adaptability has made him an invaluable asset for Manchester United, having played effectively on both defensive flanks this season. As the club looks to strengthen the squad over the summer, United fans will be closely watching Dalot’s performances at the World Cup, where he could play a pivotal role for Portugal before returning to club duty.