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July 15, 2025
At 41, most footballers are deep into retirement. Not Ronaldo. With the 2026 World Cup on the horizon, the Portuguese icon is gearing up for what could be the most defining tournament of his career. More than just another appearance, this campaign might finally deliver the one trophy missing from his legendary résumé...
Cristiano Ronaldo has achieved everything football can offer—almost. From five FIFA Ballon d’Ors to multiple UEFA Champions League glories and a European Championship with Portugal, his resume reads like a football fairy tale. But there’s still one missing page: the FIFA World Cup. With the 2026 edition looming, and Ronaldo likely making his sixth appearance at 41, the final chapter could be the most extraordinary yet.
Cristiano Ronaldo - Winning for the Portuguese people
No man has ever played in six World Cups—until now. If Ronaldo suits up for Portugal in 2026, he won’t just be breaking a record, he’ll be defying logic. He’s already the only player to score in five different tournaments, and if he finds the net in 2026, he'll extend that one-of-a-kind streak.
And he's not just hanging on for nostalgia. After rejecting lucrative Club World Cup offers, he made it clear—2026 is the focus. It's no farewell tour. It's a mission.
Nevertheless, we understand not every fan will be triggered to watch the World Cup next summer and for those, we can recommend online experiences like the ones related to virtual reality porn!
Cristiano Ronaldo🗣️:
— Players Sayings (@PlayersSayings) July 7, 2024
“I think I will be available for Portugal in the 2026 World Cup.” 🇵🇹 pic.twitter.com/7jugskSnMQ
Ronaldo might be entering the World Cup at 41, but by his own fitness metrics, he's years younger. A recent WHOOP analysis estimated his biological age to be 28.9—something unheard of in elite sport. That’s not luck; it’s 20+ years of obsessive discipline.
With a new Al-Nassr contract taking him through 2027, he’s clearly not winding down. Instead, he’s setting a new pace for what it means to age as an athlete.
| PLAYER | COUNTRY | AGE AT WORLD CUP | YEAR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essam El-Hadary | Egypt | 45 | 2018 |
| Roger Milla | Cameroon | 42 | 1994 |
| Cristiano Ronaldo | Portugal | 41 (projected) | 2026 (planned) |
| Dino Zoff | Italy | 40 | 1982 (winner) |
| Peter Shilton | England | 40 | 1990 |
There’s Champions League glory with multiple clubs. League titles across England, Spain, and Italy. The Euro 2016 triumph. Nations League in 2019. But still, the World Cup has eluded him.
Ronaldo has watched Lionel Messi lift it in 2022, and while both men’s legacies are secure, the weight of a World Cup win is undeniable. For Ronaldo, 2026 isn’t just about Portugal. It’s about closing the last loop of greatness. It’s about writing history that even time will hesitate to forget.
Manager Roberto Martínez has shown unwavering trust in Ronaldo. But as Portugal’s squad evolves—with talents like João Neves, Vitinha, and Gonçalo Ramos rising—the question becomes: what role will CR7 play?
Some critics, like William Gallas, have cautioned that “it may end in tears.” At that age, one injury or one wrong match can unravel dreams. But with Portugal likely building its strategy around Ronaldo’s leadership and experience, he won’t just be a figurehead—he’ll be central to the campaign.
If Ronaldo lifts the World Cup in 2026, the feat will ripple far beyond sport. At 41, it would reshape narratives about age, peak performance, and legacy. We’re talking about a player who already has a statue in Times Square, millions of followers hanging onto his every move, and a brand that transcends borders.
A World Cup title would turn him from a football legend into a symbol of impossible endurance. It would become the moment of his career—and perhaps one of the defining images of modern sport.
Ronaldo doesn’t need the 2026 World Cup to validate his career. But if he wins it, he’ll etch his name into a realm few athletes ever reach—where legacy isn’t about statistics, but about rewriting the rules of what greatness can look like.
Cristiano Ronaldo next game for Al Nassr is on August 19, against Al Ittihad, for the Saudi Super Cup. You can watch Al Nassr vs Al Ittihad, Liverpool vs AC Milan, Vissel Kobe vs Barcelona, Manchester United vs Leeds United, Reading vs Tottenham and Arsenal vs AC Milan, all matches provided from our streaming football game pages.
Al Nassr next game:
Al Nassr vs Al Ittihad kick-off time (19-08-2025):
Beijing (China) | UTC/GMT+7: 20:00
India (New Delhi) | UTC/GMT+4.30: 17:30
Saudi Arabia (Riyadh) | UTC/GMT+2: 15:00
Spain (Madrid) | UTC/GMT+1: 14:00
Portugal and England (Lisbon/London) | UTC/GMT+0: 13:00
Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) | UTC/GMT-3: 10:00
New York (United States) | UTC/GMT-4: 09:00
Los Angeles (United States) | UTC/GMT-7: 06:00
Sources: ronaldo7.net / bbc.com / goal.com
