Cristiano Ronaldo etched his name deeper into FIFA World Cup history by becoming only the second men’s footballer to feature in six editions of the tournament, joining long-time rival Lionel Messi in an exclusive club. However, the milestone came on a frustrating night as Portugal were held to a 1-1 draw by DR Congo in their opening match of the FIFA World Cup 2026.The 41-year-old Portugal captain made his sixth World Cup appearance, extending a remarkable international career that began at Germany 2006. Ronaldo has now played in every edition since then — South Africa 2010, Brazil 2014, Russia 2018, Qatar 2022 and North America 2026 — showcasing extraordinary longevity across two decades.
Ronaldo joins Messi in historic club
Earlier in the tournament, Argentina captain Lionel Messi became the first men’s player to appear in six FIFA World Cups during Argentina’s 3-0 win over Algeria, a game in which the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner also registered his first World Cup hat-trick.With Ronaldo now matching that feat, the two modern-day icons stand alone as the only players in history to have played in six World Cups.FIFA also recognised the pair’s unique achievement by introducing a special “Legacy” sleeve badge for players who have featured in five or more editions of the tournament. Both Messi and Ronaldo are sporting the badge during the 2026 competition.
Milestone overshadowed by disappointing display
While Ronaldo reached another landmark, the Portuguese superstar struggled to make an impact against DR Congo. Portugal’s campaign got off to a stuttering start as Yoane Wissa’s equaliser cancelled out Joao Neves’ early opener in a 1-1 draw.Ronaldo endured one of the quietest World Cup matches of his career, recording just 25 touches — the second-fewest in a World Cup start. He managed only five touches inside the opposition penalty area, attempted three shots and failed to register a single effort on target.The performance has added to concerns over the veteran striker’s effectiveness on the biggest stages.More worrying for Portugal is Ronaldo’s continuing goal drought in major competitions. The five-time Ballon d’Or winner has now gone 10 consecutive matches without scoring across the FIFA World Cup and UEFA European Championship.During that stretch, Ronaldo has taken 33 shots, with 11 hitting the target, but has been unable to find the back of the net.
