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Will this summer be the greatest achievement in the career of one of football’s greatest legends?
Cristiano Ronaldo was officially included in Portugal’s squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Tuesday. The 41-year-old star striker will be making his sixth appearance in the tournament, one of the few titles that has eluded him throughout his illustrious career.
Ronaldo is the all-time leader in appearances (226) and goals (143) for a men’s national team. He is also the only man to have scored in five World Cups. Helped Portugal win Euro 2016 and two UEFA Nations League titles (2019, 2025).
His club career has spanned some of the biggest teams in the world. After breaking into Portuguese side Sporting CP, he moved to Manchester United in 2003, where he won three Premier League titles and the 2008 Champions League. He joined Real Madrid and solidified his status as a global name with four Champions League trophies and multiple domestic titles. After moving to Juventus in 2018, he won multiple titles in Italy, but would not win another Champions League. He returned to Manchester United in 2022.
Ronaldo moved to Saudi Arabian side Al-Nassr midway through the 2022-23 season after his second spell with United.
Also included on the list were Ronaldo’s Al Nassr teammate Joao Félix, Manchester City’s Bernardo Silva and Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes. Paris Saint-Germain’s Nuno Mendes, Vitinha, Joao Neves and Gonçalo Ramos are also on the list.
Martínez selected four goalkeepers for his squad.
Portugal is in Group K along with Colombia, Uzbekistan and Congo. Portugal debuts against Congo on June 17 in Houston.
Ronaldo’s old rival Lionel Messi is set to reach the milestone of playing in six World Cups. Messi helped Argentina win the 2022 World Cup in Qatar in a thrilling victory over France that went to penalties.
Portugal squad:
Goalkeepers: Diogo Costa (Porto), José 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 Lisboa), 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 Lisboa).
FIFA World Cup 2026: How to watch
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will take place from June 11 to July 19, 2026. Spread across three countries, the tournament will culminate with the final on July 19 at the New York New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The 104 matches of the tournament will be broadcast live on FOX (70) and FS1 (34) and each match will be broadcast live and on demand both within the fox one and the FOX Sports app. A record 40 matches, more than a third of the tournament, will be broadcast in prime time on FOX (21) and FS1 (19).
The June 11 opening match between Mexico and South Africa (3 p.m. ET) will stream free on tubias well as the United States’ opening match against Paraguay on June 12 (9 p.m. ET).
