Cristiano Ronaldo Set to Make World Cup History After Latest Announcement
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is now just weeks away, and national teams are beginning to finalize their rosters for the world's biggest sporting event.
On Tuesday, Portugal officially announced its full 27-man squad, which, as expected, includes 41-year-old soccer icon Cristiano Ronaldo.
Ronaldo is already one of just five players to appear in five World Cups, and now he is set to make history barring any unforeseen setbacks.
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner is expected to become the first player ever - potentially alongside longtime rival Lionel Messi of Argentina - to play in six World Cups.
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Ronaldo already holds the all-time record for international appearances with 226 and international goals with 143. He is also the only player to score in five different World Cup tournaments. However, this will mark his first World Cup since leaving European soccer to play in Saudi Arabia.
"When we talk about Cristiano Ronaldo, we talk about two players," Portugal manger Roberto Martínez said. "We talk about the icon of world soccer and we talk about the player, our captain, who has the same demands as the other players, the competitiveness to be in the national team. Our captain is an example. We want him to continue with the same level of responsibility and leadership inside the locker room."
Martínez also made sure to symbolically add a 28th player to the roster as a tribute to the late Diogo Jota, referring to him as "a plus one forever."
Jota tragically died in a car crash in Spain last July.
"To lose Diogo Jota was an unforgettable moment and a very difficult moment," Martínez said. "But the next day it was a responsibility for all of us to fight for Diogo Jota's dream and for the example that he was in our national team."
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This story was originally published May 19, 2026 at 3:47 PM.