Ronaldo, 41, named to record sixth World Cup squad

Ronaldo Named to Record Sixth World Cup Squad for Portugal

Cristiano Ronaldo, at 41 years old, will captain Portugal at his record sixth FIFA World Cup after coach Roberto Martínez on Tuesday announced a 27-player squad for the 2026 tournament, paying tribute to the late Diogo Jota with a symbolic extra roster spot.

A Historic Selection

Martínez revealed his final squad at the Portuguese Football Federation’s headquarters in Oeiras, confirming that Ronaldo — who has appeared at every World Cup since 2006 — will become the first male footballer to feature in six editions of the tournament. The Al Nassr forward had been a doubt for the March friendlies against Mexico and the United States after sustaining an injury in late February, but his recovery has cleared the path to yet another chapter in an already unprecedented career.plataformamedia

Reuters reported that Martínez described his selection as “27 players plus one,” a tribute to Liverpool forward Jota, who died alongside his brother André Silva in a car crash in northwestern Spain on July 3, 2025. Jota was 28. The gesture echoes Martínez’s first post-tragedy squad call in August 2025, when he similarly designated an honorary place for Jota and handed the late forward’s No. 21 shirt to his close friend Rúben Neves.thestar

The Squad and the Path Ahead

The roster includes four goalkeepers — Diogo Costa, José Sá, Rui Silva, and Ricardo Velho — with Martínez clarifying that Velho will train with the group but not be available on matchdays. Notable absentees from the final cut include Pedro Neto and Bruno Fernandes, both of whom featured in earlier squads during the qualifying cycle.facebook

Portugal are drawn in Group K alongside Colombia, Uzbekistan, and DR Congo. They open their campaign against DR Congo on June 17 at NRG Stadium in Houston, followed by Uzbekistan and Colombia in the group’s remaining fixtures.yahoo

Records in Reach

Simply by stepping onto the pitch, Ronaldo will surpass every player in World Cup history for tournament appearances across editions. He also remains the only man to have scored in five consecutive World Cups, and a single goal in 2026 would extend that streak to six — a mark even Lionel Messi, who went scoreless in 2010, cannot match. With eight career World Cup goals, Ronaldo sits one behind Portuguese legend Eusébio’s tally of nine, set entirely at the 1966 tournament.bolavip

Whether this proves to be a coronation or a farewell, Martínez has made his position clear: Ronaldo leads.