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Ronaldo Confirms 2026 World Cup Farewell at 41, One Goal From Scoring Record
Key Points
Ronaldo has directly indicated 2026 will be his farewell, saying: “Definitely, yes, because I will be 41 years old,” and adding he feels “very good” in the national team at the moment. USA Today also notes he missed Portugal’s March friendlies against Mexico and the U.S. due to a hamstring issue.
Portugal coach Roberto Martínez publicly framed Ronaldo as central to the squad, calling him “our captain, a role model and a player with a real hunger,” and saying he is “an exemplary captain and an inspiration to the younger players.”
For Messi, the opening match is specifically Argentina’s “curtain-raiser against Algeria in Kansas City,” and Sports Illustrated emphasizes Messi’s reduced external pressure after winning the 2022 title—relief that it says “harassed him for his entire international career.”
SI also details Messi’s additional goal-scoring milestones for 2026: he needs four goals to reach Miroslav Klose’s record of 17 World Cup goals (with Messi on 13 entering 2026), and it adds that if Argentina wins two matches, Messi could become the tournament’s winningest player with 18 victories.
Cristiano Ronaldo, 41, takes the field for Portugal against the Democratic Republic of the Congo on June 17 needing just one goal to become Portugal's all-time leading World Cup scorer, according to valuethemarkets.com. He enters the tournament with 8 career World Cup goals across five tournaments — one shy of the record held by Eusebio. Portugal's coach has named him to the starting XI in Houston.
Ronaldo has made clear this is his farewell. "Definitely, yes, because I will be 41 years old," he said when asked if 2026 is his last tournament, per USA Today. He missed Portugal's March warm-up friendlies against Mexico and the U.S. due to a hamstring injury — but he is fit and ready now.
One Goal Away From Rewriting Portugal's History
Ronaldo has scored in every World Cup since 2006. A goal today would make it six straight tournaments with a goal — a feat no other player has ever achieved. beIN SPORTS confirmed Messi reached that same five-tournament mark just 24 hours earlier, setting up a parallel chase between the two icons.
Portugal coach Roberto Martínez has shut down any talk of leaving Ronaldo out. He called Ronaldo "our captain, a role model and a player with a real hunger," per FOX Sports. Martínez also said he is "an exemplary captain and an inspiration to the younger players," according to ESPN.
Disciplinary Ban Made the DRC Opener Even Bigger
Ronaldo did not arrive at this moment without drama. FIFA suspended him for the final two matches of a three-game qualifying ban, per the story summary. That kept him off the pitch for Portugal's last qualifying games — and made his Group K opener against the DRC the most-watched return match of the tournament.
The ban turned Ronaldo's first 2026 appearance into appointment viewing. english.ratopati.com noted that a goal today against the DRC would break the Eusebio record outright. With Portugal's 226-capped captain finally back, the spotlight is on Houston.
Can Portugal Win Without Making Ronaldo Their Crutch?
Not everyone is convinced Ronaldo helps Portugal more than he limits them. The Guardian framed him as a "test of powers" — asking whether he is a "free-scoring icon" or a "41-year-old passenger" who slows down a midfield built around Bruno Fernandes and Vitinha.
The counterpoint is stark: Portugal beat Switzerland 6-1 in 2022 when Ronaldo was benched. Still, Martínez is building the squad around him. Ronaldo has 226 caps and 143 international goals as of June 2026, per FIFA.com. His presence draws attention, sponsorship, and — Portugal hopes — goals that matter.
Messi Already Scoring, Ronaldo's Name Moves Crypto Markets
One day before Ronaldo's opener, Messi scored a hat-trick as Argentina beat Algeria 3-0 in Kansas City, per Sports Illustrated. That put Messi on 16 career World Cup goals — tying Miroslav Klose's all-time record. He also needs just one assist to break the World Cup assist record he currently shares with Diego Maradona at 8.
Off the pitch, Ronaldo's name is moving money in crypto markets. His official Binance partnership supports the "CR7 ForeverZone" NFT collection, while unofficial meme tokens on Ethereum and Solana swing sharply on match news, per cryptobriefing.com. On Polymarket, the "Ronaldo to score a free kick" market saw $771 in 24-hour trading volume on June 11 alone, according to Lines.com — showing how a single milestone can turn into a live bet.
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