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Will this summer be the crowning achievement in the career of one of football’s greatest legends of all time?
Cristiano Ronaldo was officially named in Portugal’s 2026 FIFA World Cup squad on Tuesday. The 41-year-old star striker will make his sixth appearance in 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 score in five World Cups. He helped Portugal win Euro 2016 and two UEFA Nations League titles (2019, 2025).
His club career has spanned some of the biggest sides in the world. After breaking through at Portuguese side Sporting CP, he moved to 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 more titles in Italy, but he would not win another Champions League. He returned to Manchester United in 2022.
Ronaldo moved to Saudi Arabia’s Al-Nassr midway through the 2022-23 season after his second spell with United.
Also on the list were Ronaldo’s Al Nassr teammate 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 also made the list.
Martínez selected four goalkeepers for his squad.
Portugal are in Group K along with Colombia, Uzbekistan and Congo. Portugal open against Congo on June 17 in Houston.
Ronaldo’s long-time rival Lionel Messi is set to reach the milestone of playing in six World Cups. Messi helped Argentina win the 2022 World Cup in Qatar in a thrilling victory over France that went to penalties.
Portugal’s squad:
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), Renato Veiga (Villarreal)
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).
2026 FIFA World Cup: How to watch
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will run from June 11 to July 19, 2026. Spread over three countries, the tournament will culminate with the final on July 19 at the New York New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. All 104 tournament matches broadcast live across FOX (70) and FS1 (34) with every match streaming live and on-demand within both FOX One and the FOX Sports app. A record 40 games, more than a third of the tournament, are televised in prime time across FOX (21) and FS1 (19).
The June 11 opener between Mexico and South Africa (3 p.m. ET) will stream for free on Tubeas well as the USA’s opener against Paraguay on June 12 (9 p.m. ET).
