Cristiano Ronaldo Can Break Multiple World Cup Records in 2026 – But He Won’t Be the Oldest Player Ever

Cristiano Ronaldo has confirmed that the World Cup in 2026 will be his last.

That means the Portugal captain will not break the overall record for the oldest player ever to feature at a FIFA World Cup.

However, there are still multiple records he could break during his World Cup swansong in North America next year. FootballBlog.co.uk takes a look at some of them below.

Who is the oldest player in World Cup history?

The record for the oldest player ever to feature in a World Cup game is held by former Egypt goalkeeper Essam El Hadary, who was aged 45 years and 161 days when he appeared for the full 90 minutes in a 2-1 defeat by Saudi Arabia at the end of the group stage in 2018.

Cristiano Ronaldo will only be 41 years and 165 days old at the time of the 2026 World Cup final, meaning El Hadary’s record is looking pretty safe.

The only way Ronaldo could have beaten El Hadary’s record as the oldest World Cup player ever would have been by playing well into the knockout rounds at the tournament in 2030.

But while he may never catch up to El Hadary, Ronaldo at least looks set to become the fourth-oldest player in World Cup history if he features for Portugal at all in the USA, Mexico and Canada. That seems very likely, considering Ronaldo is currently the captain of Portugal, who are almost certain to be in the World Cup draw on December 5.

Top 10 oldest players in FIFA World Cup history

Name	Age	Team	Vs	Date
Essam El Hadary	45 years, 161 days	Egypt	Saudi Arabia	Jun 25 2018
Faryd Mondragon	43 years, 3 days	Colombia	Japan	Jun 24 2014
Roger Milla	42 years, 39 days	Cameroon	Russia	Jun 28 1994
Pat Jennings	41 years, 0 days	Northern Ireland	Brazil	Jun 12 1986
Peter Shilton	40 years, 292 days	England	Italy	Jul 7 1990
Dino Zoff	40 years, 133 days	Italy	Germany	Jul 11 1982
Ali Boumnijel	40 years, 71 days	Tunisia	Ukraine	Jun 23 2006
Jim Leighton	39 years, 334 days	Scotland	Morocco	Jun 23 1998
David James	39 years, 330 days	England	Germany	Jun 27 2010
Atiba Hutchinson	39 years, 296 days	Canada	Morocco	Dec 1 2022

What has Cristiano Ronaldo said about retirement?

Cristiano Ronaldo has officially confirmed that the 2026 World Cup will “definitely” be his last.

In a recent interview with CNN in Riyadh, the Portugal captain said: “I will be 41 years old and I think will be the moment in the big competition. I’m enjoying the moment, but when I mean soon, it’s really soon because I gave everything for football.”

Ronaldo added that he is proud of his achievements, saying he has “many records in different scenarios” for both club and country, but that now he simply wants to “enjoy the moment and live the moment”.

The Al-Nassr forward has already played in five World Cups — more than any other male Portuguese player — and scored in each of them.

Which World Cup records can Cristiano Ronaldo break before retirement?

Even if Ronaldo cannot surpass Essam El Hadary’s record as the oldest player in World Cup history, he still has several milestones in sight — including some he already owns and could extend in 2026.

Most World Cup tournaments scored in

Ronaldo holds the record outright, having scored at five different World Cups (2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, and 2022).

If he finds the net again in North America, he will extend that mark to six tournaments, setting a record that might never be broken. Lionel Messi, for instance, has scored in four and would only be able to match Ronaldo’s current tally — not surpass it — if he plays and scores again in 2026.

Most goals for Portugal at the World Cup

Ronaldo has scored eight World Cup goals, putting him just one behind legendary forward Eusebio, who famously netted nine times at the 1966 tournament.

One goal in 2026 would see Ronaldo equal Eusebio’s national record, while two would make him Portugal’s all-time top World Cup scorer outright.

Given Portugal’s attacking strength and the expanded World Cup format — meaning a potential of up to eight matches per team — Ronaldo should have ample opportunity to overtake one of his country’s most iconic figures.

Most World Cup matches played

The all-time record for World Cup appearances is currently held by Lionel Messi with 26 matches, set during Argentina’s run to victory in Qatar.

Ronaldo has 22 World Cup appearances to date, meaning that a deep run to the semi-finals or final could see him equal or even surpass his great rival.

This battle could become one of the defining subplots of the 2026 tournament — particularly if both players feature in multiple games.

Oldest goalscorer in World Cup history

While Roger Milla’s record as the oldest World Cup goalscorer (42 years and 39 days, for Cameroon vs Russia in 1994) will remain out of reach, Ronaldo could still make history as the first player aged 40 or over to score in a World Cup knockout match.

That milestone currently belongs to his Portuguese teammate Pepe, who was 39 years and 283 days old when he scored against Switzerland at the 2022 World Cup.

Most World Cups as captain

Ronaldo has already captained Portugal at four consecutive World Cups (2010, 2014, 2018, 2022). Leading his country again in 2026 would make it five, extending his own record for a European player and equalling the all-time global record shared by Mexico’s Rafael Márquez.

Most international goals and appearances overall

Although not strictly a World Cup-only stat, Ronaldo continues to lead the all-time international goalscoring charts with 143 goals for Portugal — and counting.

He also holds the record for most international appearances by any male player, having reached 225 caps earlier this year. Every additional appearance and goal at the 2026 World Cup will therefore push these benchmarks even higher.

World Cup goals record

Germany’s Miroslav Klose holds the all-time World Cup goals record with 16. Ronaldo is currently on eight, so matching or surpassing Klose would require a remarkable tournament.

However, with the expanded format creating more potential games and weaker group opponents, even a modest goal run could lift Ronaldo further up the all-time rankings — and potentially into the top five.

Top five scorers in World Cup history

1. Miroslav Klose (Germany) — 16 goals in 24 games
2. Ronaldo (Brazil) — 15 goals in 19 games
3. Gerd Muller (Germany) — 14 in 13 games
4. Just Fontaine (France) — 13 in 6 games
5. Lionel Messi (Argentina) — 13 goals in 26 games

Cristiano Ronaldo’s World Cup legacy is already cemented

Whether or not he adds to his tally, Ronaldo will retire as one of the World Cup’s most enduring figures.

He has already scored in five different tournaments, captained Portugal through four, and inspired generations of fans across nearly two decades of global football.

Ronaldo will likely retire without ever winning football’s greatest prize — Portugal are said to have just a 7.69% probability of winning the 2026 World Cup.

However, Ronaldo’s legacy — both at the World Cup and in general as a football legend — is already well cemented.

He has scored more goals than any other player in the history of the Beautiful Game, has won three trophies with Portugal, plus five Champions League titles at club level.

In total, he has won 34 senior team trophies during an iconic career, while new silverware is very much on the cards. Ronaldo looks set to finally win the Saudi Pro League with Al-Nassr. Indeed, the Saudi Pro League points record could be under threat based on how well Ronaldo and Co have started the 2025/26 season.

Ronaldo’s career story is incredible – and there is still at least one chapter to go.