Three records Cristiano Ronaldo could break at the 2026 World Cup

When Morocco defied all odds to defeat Portugal in the quarter-finals of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, many assumed it marked the end of Cristiano Ronaldo’s international career.

The Portuguese No. 7 seemed to confirm those suspicions as he walked off the pitch in tears, perhaps grappling with the reality that, at 37 years old, his dream of becoming a world champion was over.

But, much like Morocco’s unexpected triumphs in Qatar, the Al Nassr frontman continues to defy expectations and write his own story. Since that heartbreaking night in Doha, Ronaldo has surpassed 900 career goals, broken Sergio Ramos’ record for the most international wins, and remarkably scored more goals after turning 30 than he did before.

In short, Ronaldo shows no signs of slowing down, which is why it’s increasingly likely that Qatar 2022 wasn’t his final shot at World Cup glory.

Despite turning 41 by the time the 2026 World Cup kicks off in North America, he seems poised to feature once again, 20 years after his World Cup debut. His Portuguese teammate Bruno Fernandes even stated earlier this year that he’s “almost certain” Ronaldo will play on football’s grandest stage next year.

With Ronaldo’s unrelenting hunger to break record after record, we take a look at three milestones he could potentially achieve at the 2026 World Cup.

This is perhaps the most straightforward of the three records for Ronaldo to achieve. All he needs is to be selected for the squad and appear in just one match at the finals to become the first player in history to play in six editions of the World Cup.

Currently, Ronaldo shares the record for most tournaments played with Lothar Matthäus, Antonio Carbajal, Andrés Guardado, Rafael Márquez, Gianluigi Buffon, Guillermo Ochoa, and Lionel Messi. Of these, only Messi and Ochoa have a shot at reaching six World Cups in 2026.

However, Ochoa's chances are slim, as he has fallen out of favour with Mexico, with the national team opting to give younger talent a chance. Messi, on the other hand, looks almost certain to join Ronaldo in North America, especially since he has been playing in the United States with Inter Miami since 2023.

If both legends feature in 2026, they will share that record – not something Ronaldo is used to doing.

Ronaldo has made an astonishing 22 appearances across five World Cups, scoring in each - a feat no other player has achieved. However, he faces a significant challenge in breaking the record for most World Cup appearances, as he currently trails his great rival Messi by four games.

With both players expected to feature in the 2026 tournament, it's reasonable to assume they will play in all three of their respective group-stage matches. Given the talent in their squads, both Argentina and Portugal are widely expected to advance to the knockout rounds.

For Ronaldo to surpass Messi’s appearance tally, the Portuguese star would need an early exit from Argentina, coupled with a deep run by his own side. If Messi plays in each of Argentina's group-stage matches and the round of 32 (added due to the tournament's expansion to 48 teams), he would reach 30 appearances. In that scenario, Portugal would have to progress all the way to the final, with Ronaldo featuring in every game, to catch up.

It’s an unlikely scenario, but not entirely out of the question.

Despite his remarkable 22 World Cup appearances, Ronaldo's goal tally isn’t quite as prolific as one might expect, with the Portuguese captain sitting on eight goals. This leaves him far from Miroslav Klose’s all-time record of 16, achieved in just four tournaments.

To match the German legend, Ronaldo would need another eight goals - a tall order. However, the expanded 2026 World Cup format, with 48 teams and an additional round, means finalists will play eight games rather than the usual seven, giving Ronaldo a sliver of hope to close the gap should Portugal go deep into the tournament.

Still, unless he produces a miraculous tournament, it’s highly unlikely. A more pressing concern for Ronaldo might be that Messi is just three goals shy of Klose’s record. For someone who thrives in the spotlight as much as Ronaldo, the thought of Messi eclipsing him in yet another category surely won’t sit well.