FIFA World Cup 2026: Will Cristiano Ronaldo Win Trophy For Portugal? Where To Watch Matches Online In India?

FIFA World Cup 2026: Cristiano Ronaldo’s confirmation that the 2026 FIFA World Cup will be his last has turned Portugal’s campaign into more than another tournament run. It is now the closing chapter of an international career that has stretched across 23 years, six World Cups, six European Championships and three major trophies as captain.

Ronaldo’s Portugal journey began in 2003

Cristiano Ronaldo made his Portugal debut on August 20, 2003, as an 18-year-old against Kazakhstan. His first international goal came at Euro 2004 against Greece, the same tournament where Portugal reached the final. By Euro 2008, he had been made captain, a role that came to define his national-team legacy.

Cristiano Ronaldo’s final World Cup adds weight to Portugal’s 2026 campaign: Will He Win FIFA World Cup 2026?

“This will be my last World Cup. Let’s go and enjoy it,” Cristiano Ronaldo said ahead of Portugal’s Round of 16 match against Spain at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The line captures the mood around Portugal: celebration, pressure and one final chase for the only major trophy missing from his cabinet.

His numbers remain unmatched in international football. Ronaldo has 233 appearances and 146 goals for Portugal, both listed as all-time world records. He also has 10 international hat-tricks, including two four-goal performances, and 141 wins in Portugal colours, the most by any player in men’s international football.

A record World Cup presence

At the World Cup, Ronaldo has played in six editions: 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022 and 2026. He has scored 11 goals in the competition, making him Portugal’s top scorer at the tournament, ahead of Eusébio’s nine. On June 23, 2026, he scored against Uzbekistan to become the first player to score in six different World Cups.

A Portugal legacy built beyond goals

Ronaldo’s Euro record is just as imposing. He has played in six European Championships and scored 14 goals in the finals, the most in tournament history. He captained Portugal to Euro 2016, the country’s first major football title, and won the Golden Boot at Euro 2020.

His influence also carried into the UEFA Nations League. Portugal won the competition in 2019 and again in 2025 with Ronaldo as captain. He scored the first goal in a Nations League Finals match in 2019 against Switzerland and finished as the top scorer in both of Portugal’s winning campaigns.

His tally includes 41 goals in World Cup qualifying, 41 in Euro qualifying, 14 at Euro finals, 11 at World Cups, 15 in the Nations League, two in the Confederations Cup and 22 in friendlies.

For Portugal, Ronaldo’s last World Cup is not only about nostalgia. It is a final opportunity to pair the greatest individual career in the country’s football history with the trophy that has eluded him.

FIFA World Cup 2026 live matches can be exclusively streamed online on ZEE5 in India in multiple languages.