Superstars Becks and Ronaldo are rivals for 2018 World Cup bid

London, Oct 11 (ANI): England football star David Beckham and Portuguese striker Cristiano Ronaldo are set to become major rivals for who will finally host the 2018 World Cup finals.

Ronaldo, a former Manchester United star, is throwing his weight behind the rival bid jointly launched by Spain and Portugal.

And that could pitch him into a head-to-head confrontation with David Beckham, who is in line to be one of the main figureheads of England's campaign, reports the News of The World.

Ronaldo, who helped dump England out of Euro 2004 and World Cup finals in 2006, will be an influential figure in the Spain-Portugal bid.

Gilberto Madail, president of the Portuguese Football Federation, said: "The perfect marriage between the best player in the world and Real Madrid, the biggest club in the world, can also be a factor which drives another project which Portugal and Spain share - the joint organisation of the World Cup.

"Football deserves it. It's the most impressive demonstration of the power of football and characterised by a young Portuguese player. I can't help but express my emotions."

Real Madrid's Bernabeu Stadium would be one of the main venues for the joint bid. (ANI)