At 41, Cristiano Ronaldo became the first player ever to score in 6 World Cup tournaments
Cristiano Ronaldo etched his name deeper into the history books on Tuesday, becoming the first player in the history of the FIFA World Cup to score in six different tournaments. The 41-year-old Portuguese captain delivered the milestone moment in the sixth minute of Portugal’s group stage match against Uzbekistan in Houston, finishing a right-footed shot after a cross from João Cancelo to put his side ahead 1-0. Ronaldo then sprinted toward the bench to celebrate with his teammates, soaking in a moment that no player before him had ever experienced.
The goal silenced critics who had pointed to his failure to score in Portugal’s opening 1-1 draw against Congo, questioning whether the aging legend still had what it takes on the biggest stage.
A record that stretches back two decades
Ronaldo‘s journey to this milestone began at the 2006 World Cup in Germany, where he scored in his very first tournament appearance. He followed that up with goals in 2010, 2014, 2018 and 2022, building a streak across six consecutive World Cups that no other player in history has matched.
While Lionel Messi also made history this year by appearing in his sixth World Cup tournament alongside Ronaldo, the Argentine does not share this particular record. Messi failed to score at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, meaning Ronaldo stands alone as the only man to find the net in all six of his tournament appearances.
Two legends rewriting the record books simultaneously
The 2026 World Cup has become a showcase for the extraordinary longevity of both Ronaldo and Messi. The two rivals, who have defined an entire era of global football, became the only players in history to compete in six World Cup tournaments this year.
The gap between them in terms of World Cup goals, however, is considerable. Ronaldo’s goal on Tuesday gave him 9 for his career in the tournament. Messi, by contrast, now stands at 18 after a hat trick in Argentina’s opening win over Algeria and 2 more goals against Austria on Monday, making him the all-time leading scorer in World Cup history.
Tuesday’s match was Ronaldo’s 230th international appearance
Beyond the scoring milestone, Tuesday’s game against Uzbekistan marked another staggering achievement for Ronaldo. It was his 230th appearance for the Portuguese national team, the most international caps recorded by any player in the history of the sport.
Likely a farewell to the World Cup stage
For all the record-breaking joy of the moment, Tuesday also carried the bittersweet weight of what is widely expected to be Ronaldo’s final World Cup. The 41-year-old has had one of the most decorated careers the game has ever seen. He won the European Championship with Portugal in 2016 and claimed the Champions League five times across his stints with Manchester United and Real Madrid.
Whether Portugal can go deep into this tournament and give Ronaldo the one major trophy that has eluded him throughout his career remains to be seen. But on Tuesday in Houston, he gave the world one more reason to remember exactly who he is.
Source: NBC News / The Associated Press