Can he rewrite his toughest chapter? Ronaldo edges toward unprecedented history | OneFootball

The Portuguese legend prepares to become the first player ever to feature in six World Cups

Can he rewrite his toughest chapter? Ronaldo edges toward unprecedented history

Even in his absence, Cristiano Ronaldo dominated global headlines on Sunday as Portugal officially qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The 40 year old forward is now on course to become the first player in football history to play in six World Cup tournament surpassing German legend Lothar Matthaus.

Despite his age, the Al Nassr captain remains committed to defying time and extending career full of unprecedented scoring feats across England, Spain, Italy and Saudi Arabia.

But the World Cup has always told more complicated story for Ronaldo.

A legendary career

Across five World Cup, Ronaldo has scored only eight goal in 22 match — a surprising contrast to his dominance everywhere else.

Breakdown of Ronaldo’s World Cup goals

While he has scored in every tournament since debuting in 2006, he has never replicated the explosive goal scoring levels that defined his club career — nor matched World Cup elites like Ronaldo Nazario or Miroslav Klose (16 goal).

Ronaldo would need 6-7 goal in one edition just to enter the top three all-time scorer — a monumental task at his age.