Three players can go to a record sixth World Cup in 2026: Here’s who’s on the ultra-exclusive list

In there is one certainty in World Cup history, it’s that history will be rewritten and at least one record broken every four years. This summer’s event will be no different. For instance, Germany have the chance to equal Brazil’s five world crowns - and even if they don’t, other World Cup records will be matched or extended.

One individual accomplishment is almost certain to be broken - the record for multiple World Cup appearances. Three players are expected to be present at their sixth World Cup tournament and two of them, to have played at least one game in all six.

Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are expected to become the only two players to have actively participated in six World Cups, while Guillermo Ochoa has been to five World Cups with Mexico but only played in three of them.

Curiously, Messi and Cristiano have never crossed paths in the five previous editions. At club level, they have faced each other 35 times - but only once at international level, a friendly in Geneva in February 2011.

Ochoa has faced both while guarding Mexico’s net. He was up against Cristiano’s Portugal in the 2017 Conference Cup, and came face to face with Messi’s Argentina in the group stage of the last World Cup in Qatar. The Albiceleste won that game 2-0 with Messi and Enzo Fernández getting the better of the veteran keeper on the day.

Currently, six players have starred in five World Cups, playing at least one game per tournament. Former Mexico goalkeeper Antonio Carbajal was the first to achieve the feat - he was chosen instead of Cuate Calderón to start the final group at the 1966 finals in England. It was his final World Cup appearance and last game for Mexico. He retired soon after.

A further two, both goalkeepers, have been to five World Cups but remained on the bench at some point. Italy’s Gianluigi Buffon was at France 98 but didn’t feature in any games. He made appearances in 2002, 2006, 2010 and 2014. Ochoa traveled with the Mexico squad for Germany 2006 and South Africa 2010 but watched from the sidelines.

So with Messi, Cristiano and Ochoa all gearing up for their sixth World Cup, let’s take a look at how they have fared since making their debuts.

Lionel Messi (Argentina)

Messi was involved with Argentina in the qualifying round for Germany 2026. By the time the tournament proper came around, the teenage forward had already eight senior caps under his belt.

Coach José Pekerman included Leo in his squad but left him on the bench for the opener against Ivory Coast. Messi made his World Cup debut against Serbia-Montenegro on June 16, 2026, coming on late in the game as a sub for Maxi Rodríguez. It was a day to remember - he played in Crespo for Argentina’s fifth goal then scored the team’s sixth.

Messi started the final group game against the Netherlands but was back on the bench for the Round of 16 clash with Mexico, replacing Saviola on 84 minutes. He was an unused sub in the quarter final, which Argentina lost 5-3 on penalties to Germany.

By the time South Africa 2010 came around, Messi had already picked up a couple of Ballon d’Or awards and had become a global superstar. Leo started and completed all three of the group stage games, against Nigeria, South Korea and Greece as well as the Round of 16 clash against Mexico. But Germany dashed Argentina’s hopes once again in the quarter finals. Messi’s World Cup ended goalless and with just one assist.

At Brazil 2014, Messi finally got on the scoresheet. His second World Cup goal came in the group stage opener against Bosnia. He was on target in the following games against Iran and Nigeria but the team suffered a shock elimination to Switzerland in extra-time, missing the semi-finals yet again.

History repeated itself four years later in Russia. Messi played every minute but Argentina were dumped out by France after the group stage.

Leo finally got his hands on the World Cup trophy, competing his collection at Qatar 2022. It was also the tournament where he produced his best figures: seven goals and three assists - the only game in which he failed to find the net was against Poland in the group stage.

Today, Messi is Argentina’s most-capped player with 198 appearances as well as the national team’s all-time top scorer with 116 goals. He also holds the record for the most World Cup games played (26).

Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal)

Ronaldo was already an established member of the Portugal squad by the time of the 2006 World Cup. He also had experience of playing in a major international tournament: Euro 2004.

In Germany, he made his World Cup debut against Angola. His first goal came in the next match against Iran. He was rested for the final group game against Mexico but played all of the team’s games from then on as Portugal made it as far as the semi-final, and lost the game for third place to the hosts.

By the time of the next World Cup in South Africa, Cristiano had made a record-breaking move to Real Madrid and had been given the captain’s armband by Portugal. The team made it through the group stage unbeaten but were knocked out by the eventual winners, Spain, in the Last 16.

Brazil 2014 was a disaster. Portugal didn’t even get past the group phase and their star player finished with paltry numbers - one goal and one assist.

On a personal level for Cristiano, Russia 2018 was where he produced his best figures: a hat trick in the opener against Spain followed by the winner against Morocco. But Portugal exited early again, defeated by Uruguay in the first knockout round.

In the last World Cup, Cristiano and Portugal reached the quarter finals but their campaign ended in tears. He started all of the group games but was benched by Fernando Santos for the knockout. A narrow defeat to Morocco ended Portugal’s dreams of glory.

At international level, Ronaldo holds numerous records - the most caps (226) and the most goals (143).

Guillermo Ochoa (Mexico)

The goalkeeper didn’t actually play at his first two World Cups despite being in Mexico’s squad.

Veteran Oswaldo Sánchez guarded Mexico’s goal in all three of the 2006 Germany group games and the Round of 16 tie against Argentina, while Ochoa sat on the bench.

He remained on the bench at the next World Cup in South Africa as back-up to Óscar Pérez.

Ochoa finally made his World Cup debut in 2014, keeping a clean sheet in the opening group game against Cameroon. He started the remaining games against Brazil, Croatia and the Netherlands.

He was Mexico’s number one at Russia 2018. The team got off to a great start, beating Germany and South Korea. It all fell apart in the Round of 16 when a 2-0 defeat to Brazil send them packing.

At Qatar 2022, Ochoa started and finished all three group games in an uninspiring campaign - a draw against Poland and defeat to Argentina limited their chances of making the next round and a victory over Sausi Arabia wasn’t enough to see them go through.

It is not guaranteed that Mexico coach Javier Aguirre will include Ochoa in his definite World Cup squad although he has been included in the preliminary list which was released this week.

Aguirre has included six goalkeepers in his roster: Alex Padilla, Antonio Rodríguez, Carlos Acevedo, Carlos Moreno, Ochoa and Raúl Rangel. Bearing in mind that only three of them will make the final list, we will see if Ochoa get a chance to make history or not. Ochoa’s last appearance for Mexico was in November 2024 against Honduras.

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