Cristiano Ronaldo sets age record at 2026 World Cup
At 41, Cristiano Ronaldo has become the oldest outfield player to start a World Cup match and joined Lionel Messi in playing at six different tournaments.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Author: YantsImages
Cristiano Ronaldo continues to make history. Starting for Portugal against the Democratic Republic of the Congo this Wednesday, the five-time Ballon d'Or winner became, at 41 years and 132 days old, the oldest outfield player to start a match in the history of the World Cup.
This achievement marks his entry into a very exclusive circle: players who have featured in at least one match across six different World Cups. Just 24 hours after Lionel Messi became the first player in history to reach this milestone on Tuesday, Ronaldo joined him.
The Portuguese star has participated in every World Cup edition since 2006, a remarkable longevity shared with his great Argentine rival, although he has played fewer matches in the competition (24) compared to Messi (27). At 41, Ronaldo continues to convince head coach Roberto Martinez to place his trust in him, even as the manager's contract is set to expire at the end of the tournament.