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Will this summer be the crowning moment in the career of one of football’s greatest legends?
Cristiano Ronaldo was officially named to Portugal’s roster for the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Tuesday. The 41-year-old star striker will be making his sixth appearance at 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. He helped Portugal win the 2016 European Championship and two UEFA Nations League titles (2019, 2025).
His club career has spanned some of the biggest teams in the world. After breaking through with Portuguese club Sporting CP, he joined Manchester United in 2003, where he won three Premier League titles and the 2008 Champions League. He joined Real Madrid and cemented his status as a global name with four Champions League trophies and several domestic titles. A move to Juventus in 2018 saw him win several titles in Italy, but he would not win another Champions League. He returns to Manchester United in 2022.
Ronaldo joined Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia midway through the 2022-23 season following his second stint with United.
Also included in the list are Ronaldo’s teammate at Al Nassr, Joao Felix, Manchester City’s Bernardo Silva and Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes. Paris Saint-Germain’s Nuno Mendes, Vitinha, Joao Neves and Goncalo Ramos were also on the list.
Martínez selected four goalkeepers in his team.
Portugal is part of Group K with Colombia, Uzbekistan and Congo. Portugal will start against Congo on June 17 in Houston.
Ronaldo’s long-time rival Lionel Messi is set to reach the milestone of six World Cups. Messi helped Argentina win the 2022 World Cup in Qatar in a thrilling victory over France that went to penalties.
Portugal team:
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).
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 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) with every match broadcast live and on demand in both countries. FOX One and the FOX Sports app. A record 40 games, 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 be broadcast free on Tubias well as the United States’ opening match against Paraguay on June 12 (9 p.m. ET).
