By being named in the squad heading to North America next month, Cristiano Ronaldo is making history by participating in the 2026 World Cup as one of the players with the most World Cup appearances .
Previously, this superstar had dedicated himself fully and consistently to the five biggest tournaments on the planet in 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, and 2022. After more than 20 years of unwavering dedication to the national team, he continues to receive the absolute trust of the coaching staff.
Ronaldo currently holds unprecedented international records for most appearances (226 matches) and most goals scored (143 goals) for a men's national team.
He is also the only male player in the world to score in five different World Cups. Throughout his long career, CR7 has been a key factor in bringing home the first three major titles in the history of his country's football, including the EURO 2016 championship and two UEFA Nations League titles in 2019 and most recently in 2025.
Looking back at his illustrious club career spanning several of the world's top teams, Ronaldo rose through the ranks at Sporting CP before joining Manchester United in 2003, where he won three Premier League titles and the 2008 Champions League.
He then moved to Real Madrid and rose to become a global icon, winning four Champions League titles along with numerous prestigious domestic trophies.
In 2018, he joined Juventus and continued to achieve success in Italy, although he was unable to win the Champions League. After reaching an agreement to rejoin Manchester United in the summer of 2021, he moved to Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia midway through the 2022-2023 season.
At 41 years old, this year's tournament will almost certainly be Ronaldo's last World Cup. It's seen as his final chance to win the World Cup – one of the very few major titles missing from his already impressive collection.
To date, Ronaldo's best achievement with Portugal in this tournament was finishing fourth in 2006, while in the most recent World Cup in 2022, his beloved team was eliminated in the quarter-finals, a heartbreaking defeat.
Interestingly, his biggest rival, Lionel Messi (Argentina), and goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa (Mexico) are also on the verge of participating in their sixth World Cup if called up to the squad, after the trio shared the record of participating in five consecutive tournaments between 2006 and 2022.
Unlike Ronaldo, Messi fulfilled his dream of winning the World Cup when he helped Argentina triumph in Qatar in 2022 after a thrilling victory over France in a penalty shootout.
The 2026 World Cup finals will be a historic tournament, co-hosted by three countries: the United States, Canada, and Mexico, taking place from June 11th to July 19th (local time).
According to the plan, after officially announcing the list of 26 players, the Portuguese national team will play international friendly matches against the national teams of Chile and Nigeria.
This is an important warm-up for coach Roberto Martínez to finalize his squad and assemble the last tactical elements before the entire team officially flies to the United States and gathers at their headquarters in Palm Beach, Florida.
The draw placed Portugal in Group K. Ronaldo and his teammates face relatively easy opponents in the group stage, including representatives from various continents: the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uzbekistan, and Colombia.
According to the schedule provided by the organizers, coach Roberto Martínez's team will officially play their opening match against the Democratic Republic of Congo on June 17th.
With a squad boasting exceptional quality and a host of highly experienced players, Cristiano Ronaldo and his teammates are receiving immense expectations from fans back home to go far, surpass previous limits, and aim for glory at the biggest football event on the planet.
Source: https://baovanhoa.vn/the-thao/ronaldo-lap-ki-luc-with-lan-thu-six-tham-du-world-cup-229834.html
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