Cristiano Ronaldo Becomes 2nd Player In The World After Lionel Messi To...

Last Updated:June 17, 2026, 22:25 IST

Ronaldo on Wednesday becomes second footballer in the world after Lionel Messi of Argentina to feature in six FIFA World Cup editions.

Football legend Cristiano Ronaldo entered the record books on Wednesday (June 17) by becoming only the second player in FIFA World Cup history to feature in six editions of the tournament. The 41-year-old was named in Portugal’s starting XI for their Group K opener against DR Congo at NRG Stadium in Houston, helping him equal the feat achieved by Lionel Messi.

Messi became the first player to appear in six FIFA World Cup editions on Tuesday (Wednesday IST), and less than 17 hours later, Ronaldo joined him in the exclusive club.

At 41 years and 132 days, Ronaldo also became the oldest outfield player to start a FIFA World Cup match.

Competing in his sixth World Cup for Portugal, Ronaldo will be hoping to lead his country to its first-ever FIFA World Cup title. Portugal have never won the tournament, and with this likely to be his final World Cup appearance, Ronaldo will be eager to end the nation’s long wait for football’s biggest prize.

Ronaldo also has the opportunity to create another piece of history in Portugal’s opening match against DR Congo.

If he scores against the African side, he will become the first player ever to score in six different FIFA World Cup editions. Ronaldo, who has eight World Cup goals to his name, scored his first World Cup goal in 2006. He also found the net once each in the 2010, 2014 and 2022 editions, while scoring four goals at the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

One of Ronaldo’s most memorable World Cup performances came in Portugal’s opening match of the 2018 tournament, when he scored a hat-trick against Spain. He will be hoping to produce a similarly influential display against DR Congo on Wednesday.

DR Congo are making their return to the FIFA World Cup after a 52-year absence. Their only previous appearance came in 1974, when they lost all three of their group-stage matches.

About the Author

Harshit BishtSenior Sub-editor

Harshit Bisht is a sports journalist with CNN-News18 since July 1, 2024, and covers cricket with a sharp eye for records, trends, and match analysis. Based in Noida, he has reported extensively on the...Read More

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