Cristiano Ronaldo Eyes Historic 2026 World Cup Appearance as Portugal Legend Defies Age

Cristiano Ronaldo has entered his forties. At this point, most professional soccer players have either retired completely or transitioned into semi-retirement—moving to a more relaxed league, concluding their careers and embracing a more leisurely lifestyle.

However, Ronaldo is different.

The Portuguese superstar continues to find the back of the net regularly, both for Al Nassr (admittedly a "lower-tier" league, but still highly competitive) and for Portugal. He managed to score five times during World Cup qualification, helping Portugal earn their spot at the 2026 tournament, which will take place across the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Portugal has secured their place—but will Ronaldo be there?

Will Cristiano Ronaldo Play at the 2026 World Cup?

Will Cristiano Ronaldo Play at the 2026 World Cup?

Indeed—Cristiano Ronaldo will participate in the 2026 World Cup. This will, nonetheless, mark his final international competition.

During remarks at the World Tourism Summit just before Portugal clinched qualification, Ronaldo was remarkably candid about his future career plans.

"I'm feeling excellent right now," he stated. "I'm finding the net, I still feel fast and alert. I'm loving my football with both the national squad and Al-Nassr. But to be frank—when I mention 'soon', it's likely one or two years [that] I'll remain in the sport."

When questioned directly about whether 2026 would mark his final major international competition, Ronaldo responded without pause: "Absolutely, yes."

This means Ronaldo won't participate in Euro 2028—which will take place in the UK and Ireland—but he will at least make one last appearance on the global stage.

How Old Will Cristiano Ronaldo Be at the 2026 World Cup?

How Old Will Cristiano Ronaldo Be at the 2026 World Cup?

Cristiano Ronaldo's birth date is February 5, 1985, meaning he will reach 41 years old when Portugal travels to North America for the 2026 World Cup.

He will not, however, claim the title of oldest World Cup participant ever. That distinction belongs to Egyptian goalkeeper Essam El Hadary, who was 45 during his appearance at the 2018 competition.

Colombia's Faryd Mondragón also surpasses Ronaldo, having competed in the 2014 World Cup at age 43, while the oldest field player remains Cameroon icon Roger Milla, who was 42 during the 1994 World Cup—where he also set the record as the tournament's oldest scorer.

Nevertheless, Ronaldo would still make history as the fourth-oldest participant and second-oldest field player to ever compete in a World Cup.

What Records Could Ronaldo Break at the 2026 World Cup?

What Records Could Ronaldo Break at the 2026 World Cup?

Although he won't claim the oldest World Cup player record, Ronaldo could still achieve several remarkable milestones during his 2026 campaign.

One potential achievement is becoming the oldest player to claim the World Cup trophy. Should Portugal triumph and Ronaldo feature in matches, he would raise the cup at 41, eclipsing Dino Zoff, who celebrated with Italy in 1982 at age 40.

Ronaldo might also create history by participating in six World Cups, something no soccer player has ever accomplished. Just one minute of playing time would cement this achievement, although Lionel Messi could equal this record if he represents Argentina.

Regarding match appearances, Ronaldo currently ranks fifth with 22 games. Based on Portugal's tournament progress, he could exceed legends such as Paolo Maldini, Miroslav Klose and Lothar Matthäus and possibly surpass Messi—who currently holds the record with 26 appearances—if Portugal advances deep into the competition.

Concerning goals scored, Ronaldo has netted eight World Cup strikes. He would require eight additional goals to match Miroslav Klose's record of 16, while Messi (13), Kylian Mbappé (12), and Harry Kane (8) remain among his primary active competitors.

One record Ronaldo currently holds is scoring across five separate World Cups—more than any other player. Scoring in 2026 would further extend this achievement, a milestone Messi has not yet reached.

read THE LATEST WORLD CUP NEWS, PREVIEWS & ANALYSIS HERE

read THE LATEST WORLD CUP NEWS, PREVIEWS & ANALYSIS HERE

Barnaby Lane is a seasoned sports journalist who has contributed to The Times, FourFourTwo Magazine, TalkSPORT, and Business Insider. Throughout his career, he's had the opportunity to interview some of the most prominent figures in global sports, including Usain Bolt, Rafael Nadal, Christian Pulisic, and others.