World Cup stories: The last dance - Cristiano Ronaldo

This summer's World Cup will see some of the most revered players in the game head to North America, and with it being the biggest tournament of all time, there are superstar names at every turn. 

Yet, 2026 will also see a changing of the guard, with several of football and the competition's most iconic faces competing on the global stage for one last time. 

It's a last dance for icons such as Lionel Messi, Luka Modric, Kevin De Bruyne and a man who's had an interesting relationship with the World Cup, Cristiano Ronaldo. 

With 58 days left until the action kicks-off in North America, we look back at the Portugal legend's World Cup journey so far. 

• Read next I 59 days - France say bonjour to World Cup glory

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Ronaldo makes his mark 

Cristiano Ronaldo's first World Cup goal 

 

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Ron's super six 

Ronaldo is set to play at his sixth World Cup finals in 2026, with only Lionel Messi being able to match the Portuguese's record. 

Yet, the tournament is probably the only competition in his illustrious career that he has yet to really leave a major mark on, despite playing 22 times across those finals.

His debut came at the 2006 finals in Germany, where he became his country's youngest-ever goalscorer at the World Cup with his goal against Iran, yet it was his behaviour in the quarter-final clash with England for which he's more identified with from that tournament. 

The cheeky wink to the Portuguese bench after appearing to aid Wayne Rooney's sending off with his reaction didn't go down well with fans, and he was also overlooked for the best young player award despite Portugal's run to the last four. 

Four years later in South Africa, he was named man of the match in all three of Portugal's group games, but he failed to score and the team were eliminated by Brazil in the first knockout round. 
 

Getty

At the peak of his powers in Brazil, and already a two-time Ballon d'Or winner, he scored all four goals in the play-off win over Sweden to get his team to the tournament, but they fell at the first hurdle and he netted just once in the group stage. 

Ronaldo's best performance was possibly in 2018. His hat-trick against Spain was one of the memorable moments of the group stage, and he also scored against Morocco, breaking Ferenc Puskás' record as the highest European goalscorer of all time, with 85 international goals. However, the nation lost again in the first knockout round, this time to Uruguay. 

That left 2022, and as he saw his career rival Messi lift the trophy, the Portugal captain once again came up short. His goal in the group stage saw him become the first player to score in five World Cups, but he was later dropped after a falling out with boss Fernando Santos and didn't start the last 16 win over Switzerland. 

He did reappear for the quarter-final, but was subbed off as they crashed out to Morocco. Leaving Ronaldo wanting on the World Cup stage again, having failed to score in a single goal in the knockout rounds during his five tournament appearances.

What can 2026 Ronaldo deliver? 

So, what can we expect from a sixth and absolute final appearance from Cristiano Ronaldo at the 2026 tournament?  

The Al-Nassr man is now 41, and many believe he shouldn't be the focal point of what is a very talented Portugal team heading to North America, especially after their credible showing in March's friendlies, which Ronaldo missed through injury. 

Yet, there's still something to be said about having the forward in the team. No, he isn't the swaggering, pacey trickster who danced his way onto the scene in 2006. Nor is he the all-conquering goalscoring machine who at his peak had his best World Cup days in Brazil over a decade ago. 

But he is still the country's greatest-ever player and still the talisman of a nation, ready to use that famous drive and determination to lead his country to glory Stateside. 
 

@cristiano

Especially because this is a man who many feel still has a small point to prove on a World Cup stage. All the greats he is compared to, Pele, Maradona, Messi, and even Cruyff, had their moment in the sun at the tournament, but literally the only thing missing from Ronaldo's CV is an iconic memory on the grandest platform of them all. 

And knowing Ronaldo as we all seem to do, that will drive him nuts, because he has done everything else and done it over and over again. 

That notion may prove to be Portugal's special weapon. They already have a team that can boast Bruno Fernandes, Vitinha, Joao Neves and Bernardo Silva, most of who are at the top of the game. 

Add in their 226-cap, figurehead, looking to add to his ridiculous 143 international goals, by not just scoring in the knockout rounds, but really making a mark like he only knows how, then surely Roberto Martinez's men could be ones to watch. 

Because one way or another, there's no way Ronaldo leaves this stage quietly. And we can't wait for the noise and the siuuuuuu to reverberate around North America this summer. 

 

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