The appearance marked Ronaldo's 23rd career World Cup match across six editions. He entered the 2026 tournament with eight World Cup goals and two assists. Ronaldo debuted at the 2006 World Cup and helped Portugal to a fourth-place finish, the country's best run since placing third in 1966. At Qatar 2022, he became the first man to score in five different World Cups. Messi matched that scoring feat across five tournaments when he scored a hat trick against Algeria on Tuesday, June 16.
The 2026 World Cup is expected to be the last for both Ronaldo and Messi, who turns 39 on June 24. Messi and Argentina lifted the World Cup in 2022, while Portugal has never lifted the trophy. Ronaldo and Messi have never met at a World Cup, though if both nations win their groups and advance through the Round of 32 and Round of 16, a quarterfinal meeting between the two stars could finally happen this summer.
