Cristiano Ronaldo's Last Dance: Portugal's Hopes at the 2026 World Cup

06.05.2026 13:46 チーム・選手
When the whistle blows on June 11, 2026 in Mexico City to kick off the 23rd FIFA World Cup, a chapter of football history could be coming to an end. Cristiano Ronaldo, at 41 years old one of the oldest players at the tournament, is facing his sixth and most likely final World Cup. For the Portuguese superstar, it's about more than just sporting success – it's about the crowning finale of an unprecedented career. Ronaldo's history at World Cups is a mix of personal brilliance and collective disappointment. Since his World Cup debut in 2006 in Germany, he has always been the flagship of the Seleção. But the grand prize has eluded him: 2006 ended in the semi-finals, 2010, 2014 and 2018 all ended before the semi-finals. At the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, Ronaldo experienced a bitter episode when coach Fernando Santos benched him in the quarter-final against Morocco – a moment that reignited the discussion about his role in the national team. Under new head coach Roberto Martínez, however, Ronaldo has staged a remarkable comeback. The Spaniard continues to rely on the experience and goal-scoring threat of his captain, who has proven his finishing ability despite his move to Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia. In the Saudi Pro League he scores goal after goal, and in the national shirt he remains the all-time leading scorer – with over 130 international goals, a record unlikely to be reached by anyone in the foreseeable future. Portugal's qualification for the 2026 World Cup has been running smoothly and as expected so far. With a talented squad featuring Bernardo Silva, Bruno Fernandes, Rafael Leão and rising midfield jewel João Neves, Martínez has a team that can certainly be counted among the tournament favorites. The question is what role Ronaldo will actually play in the final tournament: star striker or experienced substitute? The tournament expanded to 48 teams in the United States, Canada and Mexico offers Portugal a realistic chance of winning their first World Cup title. Ronaldo already won the European Championship in 2016, and he has also triumphed in the Nations League. Only the World Cup is missing from his personal trophy collection – a gap that puts him at a disadvantage in direct comparison with his eternal rival Lionel Messi.