FIFA World Cup 2026: Cristiano Ronaldo joins Lionel Messi in exclusive club despite Portugal’s setback | Football news
Cristiano Ronaldo etched his name deeper into FIFA World Cup history when he became the second men’s footballer to participate in six editions of the tournament, joining his long-time rival Lionel Messi in an exclusive club. However, the feat came on a frustrating night as Portugal drew DR Congo 1-1 in their opening match of the 2026 World Cup.The 41-year-old Portugal captain has played in his sixth World Cup finals, continuing a remarkable international career that began in Germany 2006. Ronaldo has now played in every edition since then – South Africa 2010, Brazil 2014, Russia 2018, Qatar 2022 and North America 2026 – displaying exceptional longevity over two decades.
Ronaldo joins Messi at the historic club
Earlier in the tournament, Argentina captain Lionel Messi became the first player to appear in six World Cup finals during Argentina’s 3-0 win over Algeria, a match in which the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner also scored his first World Cup hat-trick.With Ronaldo now matching the feat, the two modern-day icons stand alone as the only players in history to have played in six World Cups.FIFA also recognized the duo’s unique achievement by presenting a special ‘Legacy’ sleeve badge to players who participated in five or more editions of the tournament. Both Messi and Ronaldo will wear the badge during the 2026 competition.
The teacher was overshadowed by a disappointing presentation
While Ronaldo reached another milestone, the Portuguese star struggled to make an impact against the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Portugal’s campaign got off to a rocky start, with Yoan Wissa’s equalizer canceling out Joao Neves’ early lead in a 1-1 draw.Ronaldo had one of the quietest World Cup matches of his career, registering just 25 touches, the second fewest at the start of a World Cup. He managed just five touches inside the opposition penalty area, attempted three shots and failed to register any attempts on goal.The performance increased concerns about the veteran striker’s effectiveness on major stages.Even more worrying for Portugal is Ronaldo’s continued scoring drought in major competitions. The five-time Ballon d’Or winner has now gone 10 consecutive matches without scoring in the FIFA World Cup and UEFA European Championship.During that period, Ronaldo made 33 shots, 11 of which hit the goal, but he was unable to score.
