Ronaldo World Cup History: 41-Year-Old Leads Portugal In 2026 Squad

Cristiano Ronaldo is selected for a sixth World Cup after being named in Roberto Martinez's 27-player Portugal squad for the 2026 tournament. Ronaldo remains the only player to score in five separate World Cup editions and extends a career that already includes several major international records.

Manchester United midfielder Bruno Fernandes features in the squad, alongside Manchester City trio Bernardo Silva, Ruben Dias and Matheus Nunes. Ronaldo's Al-Nassr team-mate Joao Felix is included, while Joao Palhinha, Mateus Fernandes, Ricardo Horta and Pedro Goncalves miss out. Portugal meet Chile and Nigeria in warm-up matches before facing DR Congo on 17 June.

Ronaldo enters the 2026 World Cup at 41 years old and could share another historic mark with Lionel Messi. If both appear, they would become the first players to play in six World Cups. Ronaldo has 22 World Cup appearances for Portugal, more than any compatriot, and eight goals, one short of Eusebio's national tournament record.

The Portugal captain also leads the country's overall scoring and appearance charts. Ronaldo has played 226 times for the national team and has scored 143 goals. These figures place Ronaldo at the centre of Portugal's plans for 2026, despite the presence of several younger attacking options in the squad.

This is Martinez's third World Cup as a head coach, after two tournaments with Belgium. Belgium finished third in 2018 but exited in the 2022 group stage. Martinez has won 70% of World Cup matches as a coach, with seven victories from ten games, a record bettered only by Tele Santana, Didier Deschamps and Joachim Low among coaches with at least ten games.

Portugal's best performance at a World Cup remains the 1966 campaign, when the team secured third place. The national side reached the semi-finals again in 2006, losing to France before defeat to hosts Germany in the third-place match. The 2026 squad aims to build on those past runs with an experienced core and several emerging players.

Paris Saint-Germain midfielders Vitinha and Joao Neves, plus full-back Nuno Mendes, will join the Portugal group after the Champions League final on 30 May. Their late arrival adds another layer to Martinez's preparation, as the coaching staff must manage fitness and integration for players involved in that showpiece game.

Ruben Neves of Al-Hilal links up with Ronaldo and Felix from Al-Nassr to give the squad a strong presence from Saudi Arabian clubs. That connection may hold particular interest for football followers across the Middle East, with several key Portugal figures now based in regional leagues.

The 27-player Portugal World Cup squad covers four goalkeepers, a broad defensive unit, a creative midfield group and a deep attacking line. Experienced names from major European leagues combine with footballers playing in Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Spain, reflecting a wide spread of club backgrounds.

Portugal enter the 2026 World Cup with Ronaldo chasing further records, Martinez seeking another strong tournament run and a squad drawn from leading clubs worldwide. Preparation includes friendlies against Chile and Nigeria before the opener against DR Congo, offering early clues about Portugal's shape and selection decisions.