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Cristiano Ronaldo becomes oldest outfield player to start World Cup match

Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Jun 17, 2026, 4:49 PM

Last updated Jun 17, 2026

Cristiano Ronaldo becomes oldest outfield player to start World Cup match

Summary

Cristiano Ronaldo, 41, made history on June 17 when he started for Portugal in their 2026 World Cup opener against the Democratic Republic of Congo in Houston. This match marks his record-setting sixth World Cup, joining Lionel Messi as the only men to achieve this feat. Ronaldo has scored eight career World Cup goals and is looking to guide Portugal to their first World Cup title. The 2026 tournament is anticipated to be the last for both Ronaldo and Messi, who is also in contention during this World Cup.

Source Links

Yahoo Sports

By the Numbers

•Ronaldo starts for Portugal against Congo in World Cup opener
•He is the oldest outfield player to start a World Cup match
•This marks Ronaldo's sixth World Cup appearance
•He has eight career World Cup goals before this match
•The tournament could be his last as Portugal aims for a title

Latest Updates

6:11 PMYahoo Sports — How many World Cup goals does Cristiano Ronaldo have for Portugal?
4:49 PMYahoo Sports — How old is Cristiano Ronaldo? Portugal superstar sets World Cup age record

What they're saying

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Cristiano Ronaldo made history starting for Portugal in its 2026 World Cup opener. Here's more on his goals at soccer's biggest event:
— Yahoo Sports