SouthernWorldwide.com – The question lingers: will this summer mark the pinnacle of achievement in the career of one of football’s all-time greats?
Cristiano Ronaldo has officially been named to Portugal’s squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The 41-year-old forward will be participating in his sixth World Cup, a tournament where a title has notably eluded him throughout his extraordinary career.
Ronaldo holds the record for the most appearances (226) and goals (143) for a men’s national team. He is also the only male player to have scored in five different World Cups. His international accolades include leading Portugal to victory in the 2016 European Championship and securing two UEFA Nations League titles in 2019 and 2025.
His club career is a testament to his enduring talent, having played for some of the most prestigious clubs globally. After emerging at Sporting CP in Portugal, he joined Manchester United in 2003, where he amassed three Premier League titles and the 2008 Champions League. A subsequent move to Real Madrid cemented his global superstar status, leading to four Champions League trophies and numerous domestic league titles. His transfer to Juventus in 2018 brought more domestic success in Italy, though another Champions League title did not materialize. He made a return to Manchester United in 2022.
Midway through the 2022-23 season, Ronaldo transferred to Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr, following his second spell with Manchester United.
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The Portuguese squad also features Ronaldo’s Al Nassr teammate João Felix, Manchester City’s Bernardo Silva, and Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes. Paris Saint-Germain’s contingent includes Nuno Mendes, Vitinha, João Neves, and Goncalo Ramos, all of whom have been selected.
Coach Martínez has named four goalkeepers for the tournament squad.
Portugal has been drawn into Group K, alongside Colombia, Uzbekistan, and Congo. Their opening match is scheduled against Congo on June 17 in Houston.
Ronaldo’s long-time rival, Lionel Messi, is also set to achieve the milestone of playing in six World Cups. Messi was instrumental in Argentina’s victory at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, a thrilling final against France decided by a penalty shootout.
Portugal squad:
Goalkeepers: Diogo Costa (Porto), Jose Sa (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Rui Silva (Sporting Lisbon), Ricardo Velho (Gençlerbirliği)
Defenders: Ruben Dias (Manchester City), Joao Cancelo (Barcelona), Diogo Dalot (Manchester United), Nuno Mendes (Paris Saint-Germain), Nelson Semedo (Fenerbahce), Matheus Nunes (Manchester City), Gonçalo Inácio (Sporting Lisbon), Renato Veiga (Villarreal), Tomas Araujo (Benfica)
Midfielders: Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United), Bernardo Silva (Manchester City), Vitinha (PSG), João Neves (PSG), Rúben Neves (Al Hilal), Samu Costa (Mallorca)
Forwards: Cristiano Ronaldo (Al Nassr), Rafael Leão (AC Milan), João Félix (Al Nassr), Gonçalo Ramos (PSG), Pedro Neto (Chelsea), Francisco Conceição (Juventus), Goncalo Guedes (Real Sociedad), Francisco Trincao (Sporting Lisbon).
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is scheduled to take place from June 11 to July 19, 2026. The tournament, hosted across three countries, will conclude with the final on July 19 at the New York New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. All 104 matches of the tournament will be broadcast live across FOX (70 matches) and FS1 (34 matches). Every game will be available for live streaming and on-demand viewing on both the FOX One and the FOX Sports app. A record 40 matches, representing over a third of the tournament’s schedule, will be aired in prime time on FOX (21 matches) and FS1 (19 matches).
The opening match on June 11 between Mexico and South Africa, scheduled for 3 p.m. ET, will be streamed for free on Tubi. The USA’s opening match against Paraguay on June 12 at 9 p.m. ET will also be available for free streaming on Tubi.
