Former Manchester United forward Anthony Elanga has reflected on his time sharing the pitch with club legend Cristiano Ronaldo. The Swedish international rose through the youth system at Old Trafford and made his senior debut under former manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

Elanga was part of the senior squad when Ronaldo made his highly anticipated return to the Theatre of Dreams in the summer of 2021. The pair featured together in 25 matches, combining for one goal during their time as teammates.

The budding on-field connection came to an abrupt end in December 2022 when Ronaldo’s contract with the Red Devils was terminated following a fallout with then-manager Erik ten Hag. The Dutch coach also decided to move Elanga on the following summer, resulting in his transfer to Nottingham Forest.

After a respectable spell at the City Ground, Elanga made the switch to Newcastle United last summer. The 24-year-old is currently representing Sweden at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where he could potentially face Ronaldo for the first time in his career. In an interview with the Sweden Herald, Elanga discussed several topics, including his experience of playing alongside the Portuguese superstar.

When asked to pick between Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, Elanga offered a balanced response, saying: “You have to enjoy it. I can’t choose Ronaldo or Messi.”

He went on to express how valuable it felt to share the World Cup stage with both football icons. Elanga stated: “Big. I can learn a lot from them. Especially Ronaldo, who I played with at Manchester United. I learned a lot from him, on and off the pitch. It’s a great honour to have played with him. I just wish he would continue like this.”

Recalling the lessons he took from Ronaldo during their time at United, Elanga added: “How he is after training and stuff. How he handles his recovery. Lots of things.”

The former academy graduate was also asked whether he could see himself playing at the age of 41, to which he replied: “We’ll see. I’m only 24 now. You never know. When I’m 33? You never know.”

Ronaldo had a relatively quiet start to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with Portugal held to a 1-1 draw against Congo in their opening match. However, the 41-year-old rediscovered his form in the second group game against Uzbekistan, netting twice in a commanding 5-0 victory.

With those goals, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner became the first player ever to score in six different World Cups. Meanwhile, Elanga has featured twice so far in the tournament, both appearances coming as a substitute.

He made a brief appearance in Sweden’s 5-1 win over Tunisia before being given more time on the pitch against the Netherlands. Although Elanga scored in that game, it ultimately proved a consolation as Sweden fell to a 5-1 defeat.

His performance did not go unnoticed, earning praise from former Manchester United striker and Swedish football icon Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Responding to the compliment, Elanga said: “It means a lot. I’ve had the opportunity to play with him in the national team. When he talks, you listen.”

Elanga’s rise through United’s ranks once promised a bright future, though he struggled to maintain consistent form. Nevertheless, fans still fondly recall his memorable equaliser off the bench in the 1-1 draw against Atletico Madrid during the Champions League Round of 16.