Portugal great Cristiano Ronaldo is set to appear at an unprecedented sixth men’s World Cup this summer, as the Seleção chases a maiden global title.

The 41-year-old, who featured at his first World Cup back in 2006, currently shares the total-tournaments record with several stars who have played at five finals - among them Argentina’s Lionel Messi, who is poised to join CR7 in extending the mark in North America.

But what are the chances that Ronaldo could turn six into seven in four years’ time? With Portugal confirmed as one of the co-hosts in 2030, could he prolong his playing career long enough to appear at a home World Cup?

What has Ronaldo said about World Cup 2030?

When, in December 2024, FIFA announced Portugal as one of three main 2030 co-hosts, alongside Spain and Morocco, Ronaldo described the news as a “dream come true”. He added that the tournament, which will also see games played in South America, will be “the most special World Cup ever”.

However, although Ronaldo was in April quoted by some outlets as saying he has not “ruled out” trying to make the World Cup in Portugal, this writer could not reliably ascertain that he actually said that. And, judging by the more easily verifiable comments he has made, it seems he doesn’t expect to play in 2030.

Speaking to CNN in November last year, the veteran said the 2026 World Cup would “definitely” be his last. “I will be 41 years old and I think will be the moment in the big competition,” he said. Also in November 2025, he offered a retirement timeline that would see him hang up his boots before 2030. Per Reuters, he said he expected to call time on his career in “probably one or two years”.

What’s more, the World Cup history books indicate that Ronaldo is very unlikely to be involved in the 2030 finals in a playing capacity.

Must smash Milla mark

This year, after all, Ronaldo is already poised to go down as one of the tournament’s oldest ever players. When Portugal plays its opening game of the 2026 group stage, against DR Congo in Houston on June 17, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner will be 41 years and 132 days old.

As things stand, only three players older than that have featured at the men’s World Cup in its 96-year history: Egypt’s Essam El Hadary in 2018, Colombia’s Faryd Mondragon in 2014, and Cameroon’s Roger Milla in 1994.

Ronaldo, who has amassed 143 goals in 227 Portugal caps, is in line to go fourth or fifth on the list this summer, depending on whether or not the 43-year-old goalkeeper Craig Gordon plays for Scotland in North America.

And, crucially, Milla is Ronaldo’s only fellow non-goalkeeper in the current top five, having appeared for Cameroon at USA ‘94 aged 42 years and 39 days old. So if he’s to feature at World Cup 2030, Ronaldo will have to absolutely demolish the record for an outfield player at the tournament, stretching it by more than three years. When the 24th edition of the men’s World Cup kick offs on June 8, 2030, Ronaldo will be 45 years and 123 days old.

As it stands - men’s World Cup’s oldest players

• 1. Essam El Hadary, GK: 45 years and 161 days
• 2. Faryd Mondragón, GK: 43 years and 3 days
• 3. Roger Milla, F: 42 years and 39 days
• 4. Pat Jennings, GK: 41 years and 0 days
• 5. Peter Shilton, GK: 40 years and 292 days

Source: FIFA.com

“He has earned it”

Nevertheless, Ronaldo’s current Portugal boss, Roberto Martínez, is one prominent soccer figure who is backing the Al Nassr star to make the World Cup four years down the line. “No-one should doubt it [that Ronaldo could play in 2030],” Martínez told an interview with the Spanish radio station Cadena SER last month. “He has earned it.”

Ronaldo eyes records in 2026

For now, though, Ronaldo has the chance not only to become one of the World Cup’s oldest ever appearance makers over the coming six weeks, but also to climb the list of the tournament’s most senior goal scorers.

Although he cannot catch Milla, who scored against Russia on the same day he set his record as the World Cup’s oldest outfield player in ’94, Ronaldo can move into second in the standings this summer.

He currently sits third, having scored against Ghana at 37 years and 292 days old at the 2022 finals, but can leapfrog compatriot Pepe. Also at the World Cup in Qatar, the former defender netted for Portugal against Switzerland, at the age of 39 years and 283 days.

At the 2026 finals, Ronaldo can likewise become the first player to score at six different men’s World Cups. This would extend his record of five, set when he netted against the Ghanaians three and a half years ago.

Portugal’s 2026 World Cup group-stage schedule:

• Wednesday, June 17: Portugal vs DR Congo, Houston, TX
• Tuesday, June 23: Portugal vs Uzbekistan, Houston, TX
• Saturday, June 27: Colombia vs Portugal, Miami, FL

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