Cristiano Ronaldo’s World Cup record: How the Portugal legend has fared at previous competitions  | OneFootball

Cristiano Ronaldo will take part in his sixth, and surely final, World Cup with Portugal in north America this summer. 

This year’s tournament represents the final chance for the 41-year-old to lift the World Cup with his country and emulate rival Lionel Messi. who won the last World Cup with Argentina. 

Ronaldo winning the World Cup at 41 would of course be an incredible ending to an unbelievable career. But here’s how he got on at each of the five World Cups he has already played at… 

2006 World Cup

Ronaldo’s first World Cup came back in 2006 as a 21-year-old, where he became his country’s youngest ever scorer at a World Cup when he netted against Iran.  

Ronaldo is expected to add to his goal tally at World Cups this time around but is not among the favourites to take home the Golden boot. Bookmakers, such as those on Best Betting Bonuses, which provides the best betting sign up offers to bet on the World Cup, instead favour other players for the individual award, such as Kylian Mbappe and Harry Kane. 

The then Manchester United forward helped Portugal to reach the semi-finals in 2006, beating England in the quarter-finals when he clashed with club team-mate Wayne Rooney, who was sent off during the game. 

Portugal were ultimately knocked out by France in the semi-finals, but it was a positive first World Cup for the future Ballon d’Or winner. 

2010 World Cup

Ronaldo’s next World Cup was more disappointing, however. The Portugal star played only four times as his side were knocked out in the round of 16, and scored just one goal which came in a 7-0 demolition of North Korea. 

Portugal were beaten 1-0 by fierce rivals Spain to exit the competition, a humbling experience for Ronaldo and his team-mates. 

2014 World Cup

Yet more disappointment followed for Portugal in 2014, when they were knocked out in the group stage. Ronaldo played just three times, scoring once, with the Real Madrid forward on an early plane home from Brazil much to the disappointment of his and Portugal’s supporters. 

2018 World Cup

Ronaldo had by far his best individual World Cup in the 2018 tournament in Russia. He made four appearances and scored four goals, but his own impressive displays could not help his team past the round of 16 stage. 

Three of those four goals came against Spain, when he scored a stunning hat-trick in a 3-3 group stage draw, widely recognised as one of the best World Cup games of all time.  

But Ronaldo’s competition ended with defeat to Uruguay, the third straight World Cup in which he failed to make the latter stages. 

2022 World Cup

There were suspicions that the Qatar tournament could be Ronaldo’s last, though that would of course prove not to be the case. Ronaldo managed just one goal at the tournament as Roberto Martinez’s side made the quarter-finals. 

Portugal suffered a surprise defeat to the tournament’s overperformers Morocco in the quarters. 

Ronaldo’s World Cup history is not as reflective of his ability as would be expected, but the good news is that he still has one more chance to write history.