Cristiano Ronaldo reached another historic FIFA World Cup landmark during Portugal's opening 2026 tournament match in Houston, strengthening his legacy in the long-running rivalry with Lionel Messi and leaving the Argentina captain with one major age-related record still to pursue.
The result itself disappointed Portuguese supporters. Portugal was held to a 1-1 draw by DR Congo in its opening Group K fixture on June 19, 2026. The Selecao das Quinas entered the tournament with high expectations and appeared on course for victory when Joao Neves gave the side an early lead. DR Congo responded with Yoane Wissa scoring the nation's first-ever World Cup goal to secure a historic point.
Despite controlling possession, Portugal struggled to convert dominance into meaningful chances. DR Congo remained organized throughout the contest and frustrated Roberto Martinez's team with disciplined defending and effective counterattacks. The draw leaves Group K wide open ahead of Portugal's upcoming matches against Uzbekistan and Colombia.
Ronaldo joins Messi at six World Cups
Amid the frustration of the draw, attention shifted toward a milestone that could keep Ronaldo's name in the record books for years to come. The Portugal captain joined Lionel Messi as only the second player in soccer history to appear in six different FIFA World Cups.
The achievement arrived during what is already becoming one of the most memorable World Cups ever staged. Messi had grabbed headlines less than 24 hours earlier after scoring a hat-trick for Argentina against Algeria, once again proving why he remains one of soccer's greatest performers. Ronaldo responded by creating a piece of history of his own.
The age record Messi has left to chase
The biggest talking point from Ronaldo's appearance was the age-related record he established. Aged 41 years and 132 days, Cristiano Ronaldo became the oldest outfield player to start a match in FIFA World Cup history. The previous record belonged to Canada's Atiba Hutchinson, who started a World Cup match at 39 years and 296 days during the 2022 tournament.
Only a handful of outfield players have ever appeared at a World Cup after turning 40. Cameroon legend Roger Milla famously played at the 1994 World Cup at age 42, although his appearances came as a substitute.
The milestone means Messi still has a significant record left to chase. The Argentina captain will turn 39 shortly on June 24. If he somehow extends his career until the 2030 World Cup at the age of 43, he could potentially surpass Ronaldo's age-related achievement.
