Cristiano Ronaldo has selected in Portugal’s provisional squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, marking his historic attempt to play in a record sixth World Cup tournament. The 41-year-old Portuguese icon is set to compete in the tournament hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, where Portugal will face DR Congo, Uzbekistan, and Colombia in Group K.
Ronaldo and Portugal have been training at Cidade do Futebol in Oeiras as preparations get underway for the tournament that runs from June 11 to July 19, 2026. The team is preparing for their Group K campaign with their opening match against DR Congo in Houston, Texas.
The Portuguese squad includes notable players such as Bernardo Silva and Rúben Neves, who trained alongside Ronaldo during the session. Ronaldo has been seen speaking with head coach Roberto Martínez before joining the squad on the pitch, showing his commitment to the team’s preparation.
Ronaldo currently has 143 international goals, with nearly all but two of his last 15 goals scored against teams that either qualified for the World Cup or were likely contenders. Spain and Germany are among the possible winners his team could face in the tournament.
Portugal is currently ranked fifth globally, making them one of the strongest footballing nations that have yet to win the World Cup. The team is guided by manager Roberto Martínez, who has previously led a smaller nation to a World Cup semi-final, adding experience to Portugal’s World Cup challenge.
Ronaldo likely has personal records in his sights at the 2026 World Cup. The upcoming group-stage matches against DR Congo and Uzbekistan present opportunities for him to become the player to appear in six World Cups, which would also tie him with Eusebio’s national record of nine World Cup goals, though Eusebio achieved his tally in a single tournament, scoring six in knockout stages.
Ronaldo’s focus remains on winning the World Cup, not just for Portugal, but for everything he has given to football and to the world throughout his legendary career. The upcoming tournament could be his last opportunity to achieve this milestone, and while it may also be Portugal’s best chance, questions remain about whether they can succeed because of or despite his presence.
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