Cristiano Ronaldo To Make a Record Sixth FIFA World Cup Tournament Appearance
The 41-year-old athlete joins Roberto Martinez’s 27-man Portugal roster.
Summary
- Cristiano Ronaldo has been named in the 2026 World Cup squad for Portugal and will embark on a historic sixth tournament appearance at 41 years old
- Coach Roberto Martinez dedicated the selection to the late Diogo Jota, naming the former forward as an honorary “plus one” for the group following his passing in July 2025
- The national team will face DR Congo, Uzbekistan and Colombia in Group K after warm-up friendlies against Chile and Nigeria in early June
Portugal head coach Roberto Martinez confirmed a 27-man roster led by captain Cristiano Ronaldo. The 41-year-old football icon is gearing up for his sixth World Cup campaign. The squad includes prominent stars such as Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva and a Paris Saint-Germain quartet consisting of Nuno Mendes, Joao Neves, Vitinha and Goncalo Ramos. The selection process heavily prioritized tactical versatility to handle varying climates and time zones across the North American host nations.
The announcement featured a poignant tribute to Diogo Jota. The beloved forward died in a car accident in July 2025 at the age of 28. Martinez emphasized that Jota’s spirit remains central to the collective ambitions of the locker room. He named the late player as an honorary plus-one on the roster and stated the squad will fight for his unrealized dream on the global stage. Portugal enters the tournament as the reigning Nations League champion and seeks to secure a maiden World Cup title.
The preparation phase requires the group to report to a training base in Palm Beach, Florida. Before traveling stateside, the squad will play a friendly against Chile in Oeiras on June 6 and face Nigeria in Leiria on June 10. Martinez also decided to bring Genclerbirligi Ankara goalkeeper Ricardo Velho as a fourth option between the posts. Velho will serve as a designated training participant who can only be officially registered if one of the primary three keepers sustains an injury during the competition.
Group K action begins on June 17 in Houston against DR Congo. A second Houston fixture follows on June 23 against Uzbekistan. The group stage then concludes against Colombia in Miami on June 27. The final squad highlights a dynamic mix of veteran leadership and young talent. Al-Nassr teammate Joao Felix and AC Milan winger Rafael Leao join Cristiano Ronaldo in a potent attacking lineup. The combination of seasoned stalwarts and emerging stars underscores a deep talent pool ready for the demanding summer schedule.
