Cristiano Ronaldo will step onto the World Cup stage for the sixth time next month, joining Lionel Messi as one of the only men in history to reach that mark. The Portugal captain, who turned 41 in February, heads into the tournament with records that no other men’s international player has come close to matching — 226 appearances and 143 goals for his country. He is also the only man to have scored in five separate World Cup tournaments.
For Ronaldo, this edition is widely expected to be his last shot at the one trophy that has escaped him throughout his career.
Saudi Arabia Move Did Nothing to Slow Ronaldo Down
When Ronaldo left Manchester United in late 2022 to join Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia, the reaction was largely negative. Critics argued he was walking away from elite football, choosing a lucrative contract over competitive relevance. Some went as far as saying he was effectively retiring from serious football.
The numbers since then tell a different story. Ronaldo scored 14 goals in 16 matches in his first partial Saudi season. In his first full season, he netted 35 goals in 31 games, setting a new scoring record in the Saudi Pro League. He topped the scoring charts in both of his first two complete seasons. On May 7 this year, he scored his 100th Saudi Pro League goal in just his 105th league appearance for the club.
His Portugal performances have matched his club form. He has scored 25 goals in his last 30 international matches. He helped Portugal win the 2025 Nations League, scoring in the final against Spain. A hamstring injury in late February caused a brief concern, but he recovered quickly and continued scoring.
Ronaldo has not stayed quiet about the criticism either. Speaking to Piers Morgan, he pointed out that those questioning the Saudi league have never played there, and argued that scoring consistently in that climate and competition is harder than many assume.
Portugal Coach Has No Doubt About Ronaldo’s Place in the Squad
Portugal coach Roberto Martínez has been direct in his assessment of Ronaldo’s value to the national team. He says the forward remains as driven as ever, and that hunger is something he finds genuinely impressive given everything Ronaldo has already achieved in the sport.
Martínez has also made clear that Ronaldo holds no special status when it comes to selection. Despite his captaincy and record-breaking numbers, he is assessed on current performance like every other player in the squad. The coach says Ronaldo brings something unique simply through his presence and experience, but that presence is still earned through what he does on the pitch.
Teammate João Félix, who plays alongside Ronaldo at both Al Nassr and with Portugal, described his daily commitment as unique and said watching him perform at 41 pushes the rest of the squad to raise their own standards.
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Portugal’s Group Stage and World Cup Ambitions
Portugal is coming into the 2026 World Cup with a sense of confidence. The team has a good balance of experience and quality, with Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva, and Nuno Mendes joining Ronaldo. The group draw has been kind, as DR Congo, Uzbekistan, and Colombia have been placed in the middle between Portugal and the knockout stage.
Portugal have high hopes of going far in the tournament. It’s Ronaldo’s last chance to win the one big prize he hasn’t yet claimed.
It’s not clear if Portugal will be able to go all the way, but Ronaldo’s form and commitment going into the tournament suggest the obvious.
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