BRASIL STILL HOPE TO WIN 2014

Not likely! Ronaldo cool on hosts' hopes of sixth title

Ronaldo is convinced his country will put on a great show at the World Cup in 2014, but doubts they can lift the title a record sixth time. 

Fears were mounting over the countries' readiness to hosts the competition with the building of stadia and facilities seemingly behind schedule. 

Ronaldo moved to quell those fears, but has revealed he believes the chances of the hosts nation lifting the cup on July 13 are slim.

Pleased to meet you: Ronaldo greets Fabrice Muamba at Stamford Bridge

He said: 'I'm sure we will be able to look back with pride and know that we organised the best World Cup of all time.

'The organisation, of course, has to be perfect. It will be perfect. We will guarantee it will be perfect.'

He added: 'We have the worst FIFA ranking ever in history,' he said. 'It is a difficult moment for the national team.

'However, we will be playing at home. This will be added incentive, it will be motivation. I think it will have a positive impact.

'Otherwise, I will be playing again!'

Ronaldo was at the Leaders in Football Summit at Chelsea's Stamford Bridge stadium where he met former Bolton midfielder Fabrice Muamba.  

FIFA have taken the opportunity at the event to pledge to keep empty seats to a 'strict minimum' at the the next World Cup.

Fear not: Ronaldo has allayed any fears Brazil will not be ready

This year’s London Olympics and European Championships in Poland and Ukraine were both dogged by no-shows in arenas that were meant to be sold out.

FIFA admit it is impossible to eradicate the problem completely but are confident they will have systems in place at Brazil 2014 to avoid similar embarrassment.

FIFA’s marketing director Thierry Weil said: 'Empty seats is always a huge topic.

'We are implementing new initiatives, we are implementing new resale platforms.

'There will always be no-shows - as we call it - in the ticketing world, people who, last minute, will not come to the stadium for certain reasons.

'But we will do our maximum to reduce that to a strict minimum.'

He added: 'We are concerned by no-shows, that is clear. Because it does not look good and it especially does not look good if you announce to the world that you have no tickets, then you see on TV that you have a lot of empty seats.'

Repeat performance? Ronaldo lifted the cup in 2002