Cristiano Ronaldo
He turned 41 in February. The tears in Doha — at 37, with no trophy, against Morocco — looked like the end. They weren't. The only honor missing from his cabinet is the World Cup, and the most relentless career football has ever produced isn't leaving that box unchecked without one more fight.
Group Stage Schedule
At 41, Ronaldo will be the oldest outfield player in the tournament — and he arrives as the Nations League's top scorer with Portugal as reigning champions. Martinez named him in a 27+1 squad, the symbolic +1 in memory of the late Diogo Jota. Group K offers a tricky Colombia clash, but the real question is whether the ultimate competitor can finally lift the one trophy that has always eluded him.
Records in Play
Ronaldo is the only man to have scored in five different World Cups (2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022). A sixth would extend a record nobody else is anywhere near.
At 41, the oldest outfield player in the field. Roger Milla scored at 42 for Cameroon in 1994 — Ronaldo could become the second-oldest scorer in World Cup history.
Five Champions Leagues. Five Ballons d'Or. A European Championship. A Nations League. The all-time international scoring record. The World Cup is the one trophy his cabinet still doesn't hold.
Every Chapter
At 41, Cristiano Ronaldo will be the oldest outfield player at the 2026 World Cup — and he's heading into his sixth tournament. The all-time international goalscorer has defied every prediction about his decline. His tears in Qatar told the story — this World Cup dream remains unfinished. Portugal start in Houston before a crucial Colombia test in Miami.
Cristiano's 2026 World Cup, Answered
Is 2026 Cristiano Ronaldo's last World Cup?
Almost certainly. At 41 Ronaldo will be the oldest outfield player at the 2026 World Cup, his record sixth tournament — widely expected to be his final one.
Has Cristiano Ronaldo ever won the World Cup?
No. The World Cup is the one major trophy missing from Ronaldo's cabinet; his best run was the 2006 semi-finals. Portugal arrive in 2026 as reigning Nations League champions.
How many World Cup goals does Ronaldo have?
Ronaldo has 8 World Cup goals and is the only player to have scored in five different World Cups. A goal in 2026 would stretch that record to six.
Will Cristiano Ronaldo play in the 2026 World Cup?
Yes. Portugal have qualified and Ronaldo, at 41 the tournament's oldest outfield player, captains the side into his record-equalling sixth World Cup. Portugal are in Group K with DR Congo, Uzbekistan, and Colombia.
What group is Portugal in at the 2026 World Cup?
Portugal are in Group K with DR Congo, Uzbekistan, and Colombia. They open against DR Congo at NRG Stadium in Houston.