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June 17, 2026
Few Portugal players have shared more of the national-team journey than Ronaldo, Pepe, Rui Patrício and João Moutinho. Across World Cups, Euros, qualifiers and one unforgettable night in Paris, these long-serving teammates helped shape one of the greatest eras in Portuguese football history...
The World Cup is finally here, and for fans of both Portugal and Cristiano Ronaldo, the occasion promises to be bittersweet. On the one hand, it's the World Cup, football's biggest party, and the grandest stage that the beautiful game has to offer. On the other hand, at the ripe old age of 41, it will likely be the iconic CR7's final ever foray onto this storied stage. When Ronaldo takes to the field for Portugal's opener against DR Congo in Houston, he will make history by featuring at a record sixth World Cup — a record he will share alongside long-time nemesis Lionel Messi. Should he score in that game, or any other this summer, then he will break his own record by becoming the only man to ever score at six different World Cups. When you consider the longevity required to feature in six separate editions of the tournament across 20 years, it's a record that will likely never be matched or broken.
Cristiano Ronaldo - Free kick goal
Of course Ronaldo can score this free kick from a near impossible angle! 😱🐐 pic.twitter.com/e5Hz6RTCBO
— Bovada (@BovadaOfficial) May 21, 2026
If Cristiano wants to cement his legacy as the greatest player who has ever lived, officially up there alongside the aforementioned Messi, then he will likely have to win the World Cup this summer, just as his eternal rival did with Argentina four years ago. For many, that triumph in Qatar secured Leo's spot as the undisputed number one, but if Ronaldo can match that effort this summer, then there can be no denying that he belongs up there with his oldest foe as the two greatest to ever do it. And online betting sites think it's a possibility.
The latest Bovada sports betting odds currently position Portugal as a 15/2 fourth favourite to win the World Cup this summer, with only Spain (9/2), France (5/1), and England (13/2) ahead of them in the odds list. Messi's Argentina, meanwhile, are a 9/1 shot to defend their title.
Across Ronaldo's 23-year international career, he has lined up alongside a whopping 143 different teammates for the Portugal national team. But which of those players has he played alongside the most? Let's find out.
Central defender Pepe tops the pile as not only the man who Ronaldo has played with the most in the national team, but also his playing career in its entirety. The two have shared the pitch for a total of 8,358 minutes internationally across 107 games. Including the pair's time together at Real Madrid, the total they have actually featured both at club and international level stretches to an additional 19,739 minutes and a further 241 games (total 28,097 minutes, 348 games).
Ronaldo was already Portugal's talisman by the time Pepe emerged as a starting centre back at Euro 2008. From there, the pair would play together at nine major tournaments (six European Championships, four World Cups), with the highlight without question being Euro 2016. That summer, the Selecao managed to navigate a tricky group stage, only progressing to the knockout rounds as one of the best-placed third-place teams before going on to defeat Croatia, Poland, Wales, and finally hosts France to win the tournament, Portugal's first-ever major honour.
Pepe would retire from football following Portugal's Euro 2024 quarterfinal exit at the hands of France two years ago. He was 41 by the time he brought the curtain down on his glittering career. Ronaldo is 41 right now, and he is still going strong as he looks to captain his country to a maiden World Cup triumph.
Before losing his place to current FC Porto man Diogo Costa, Rui Patricio was Portugal's undisputed number one. Between 2010 and 2024, he made 108 appearances for the Portuguese national team, becoming just the eighth centurion in the country's history. 88 of those appearances came alongside Ronaldo, with their total of 7,382 minutes together on the pitch putting him second on this list.
At the age of 38, Patricio is still playing today, recently suffering relegation from the Premier League with English outfit Wolverhampton Wanderers. He isn't, however, in Portugal's World Cup team, with the aforementioned Costa as well as José Sá — another Wolves goalkeeper — and Sporting's Rui Silva preferred as Roberto Martinez's three goalkeepers.
The veteran shot stopper was also a crucial member of Portugal's famed Euro 2016 squad. He played every minute of the Selecao's run to glory that summer, playing a crucial role in the penalty shootout victory against Poland in the quarterfinals, saving from Jakub Blaszczykowski and allowing Ronaldo to sweep home the winner.
No player has featured in more separate international matches alongside Ronaldo than João Moutinho, with the pair playing in a mighty 110 separate contests alongside each other. However, with him being substituted off the pitch more times than the other two — due to him playing in central midfield as opposed to centre back Pepe and goalkeeper Rui Patricio — his 6,681 minutes alongside Ronaldo put him third in this list.
Moutinho is still strutting his stuff today at the ripe old age of 39. He made a whopping 56 appearances in all competitions for Portuguese outfit Braga last season, but he has long been retired from international football and won't be appearing at this summer's World Cup.
Cristiano Ronaldo next game for Portugal is on June 17, against Congo, for the FIFA World Cup. You can watch Portugal vs Congo, Czech Republic vs South Africa, Uzbekistan vs Colombia, England vs Croatia, Switzerland vs Bosnia and Ghana vs Panama, all matches provided from our live football game pages.
Portugal next game:
Portugal vs Congo kick-off time (17-06-2026):
Beijing (China) | UTC/GMT+8: 01:00
India (New Delhi) | UTC/GMT+5.30: 22:30
Saudi Arabia (Riyadh) | UTC/GMT+4: 21:00
Spain (Madrid) | UTC/GMT+2: 19:00
Portugal and England (Lisbon/London) | UTC/GMT+1: 18:00
Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) | UTC/GMT-3: 14:00
New York (United States) | UTC/GMT-4: 13:00
Los Angeles (United States) | UTC/GMT-7: 10:00
Sources: ronaldo7.net / bbc.com / theguardian.com
