Football means a lot of things to a lot of different people. For some, it is artistry, shaped by its most gifted creators. Players like Lionel Messi, Diego Maradona, Zinedine Zidane and Thierry Henry fall into this category. They are the geniuses, those who glide across the field, leaving defenders cowering with feints and flicks.
They aren't built like titans, but their foot shares a warm embrace with the ball. They carry the moonscape like one would a sensitive lover: with grace and tenderness.
Then there are the specimens. They are sprinters and high jumpers, those who leave defenders weary not because of their technical skill (at least not exclusively), but for their raw athleticism and force.
Cristiano Ronaldo is the latter. On the wrong side of 40, the forward has burst more nets than anyone in modern history. There's little reason to believe he'll stop anytime soon.
Whether for club or country, Ronaldo tends to leave his imprint around the six-yard box. Here's a look at who he will play for when the World Cup kicks off in 2026.
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What team is Ronaldo on?
A star at the club and international level, Ronaldo has worn plenty of kits across his glittering career. Ronaldo will turn out for Portugal in the 2026 World Cup, continuing his 23-year career with the national side.
Ronaldo is Portugal's all-time leading goal-scorer. He is also history's most-capped male player, making more than 220 appearances for his national side. He led the country to its greatest international achievement in 2016, vanquishing all continental foes in the European Championship. He has also lifted Nations League titles in 2019 and 2025.
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On the club side, Ronaldo currently stars for Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League. He joined the side in 2023, spelling an end to a 20-year spell in Europe that saw him play for Sporting CP, Manchester United (twice), Real Madrid and Juventus.
Here's a look at Ronaldo's club career over the years:
| Team | Years | Matches played | Goals scored |
| Sporting CP B | 2002-03 | 2 | 5 |
| Sporting CP | 2002-03 | 31 | 5 |
| Manchester United | 2003-09 | 292 | 118 |
| Real Madrid | 2009-18 | 438 | 450 |
| Juventus | 2018-22 | 134 | 101 |
| Manchester United | 2021-23 | 54 | 27 |
| Al-Nassr | 2022-present | 123 | 110 |
| Total | 2002-present | 1074 | 811 |
Where is Cristiano Ronaldo from?
Ronaldo was born in Funchal, the capital of Madeira, an island located on the coast of West Africa. Despite its location, Madeira is considered an autonomous region of Portugal.
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The island flaunts a population of 250,769, according to the 2021 Portuguese census. The son of a municipal gardener and cook and domestic worker, Ronaldo got his start at local side Andorinha, where his father served as the kit man. He spent two sides with Funchal-based Nacional before signing with Sporting after a successful trial in 1997.
Is Ronaldo in the 2026 World Cup?
Ronaldo is all-but assured to turn out for Portugal during the 2026 World Cup. The aging striker was ever-present in Portugal's qualification campaign, scoring five goals as the Roberto Martinez-helmed side topped its group. He was handed a three-game ban after being sent off against Ireland for violent conduct in Portugal's penultimate qualifier.
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Ronaldo missed out on Portugal's final qualifying match against Armenia. He figured to be on the docket for an additional two-match ban, which would have seen him miss out the firs match of the World Cup.
However, FIFA's Disciplinary Committee reduced his three-match suspension to one, with the remaining two games suspended for a probationary period of one year.
Here's a look at the language behind Ronaldo's shortened suspension:
"In accordance with Article 27 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code, the enforcement of the two remaining matches has been suspended for a probationary period of one year. If Cristiano Ronaldo commits another offense of a similar nature and gravity during the probation period, the suspension outlined in the disciplinary decision will be automatically revoked and the two remaining matches must be served immediately in the next official games."
FIFA's repeal of its tried and tested punishment appears to indicate that Ronaldo will play a role in the summer's festivities. Nothing is guaranteed, particularly for a player who will be 41 when the tournament starts.
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Nevertheless, if Ronaldo is healthy, he is almost certain to play.
Cristiano Ronaldo international goals
As of Dec. 3, 2025, Ronaldo has tallied 143 goals in 226 matches for Portugal. That goal mark is the highest of any men's player in international senior football, nearly 30 better than his rival, Lionel Messi's, tally.
Eight of those markers have come in the World Cup. He's currently joint-26th on the competition's all-time goal-scoring list, level with a host of standouts, including Neymar, Harry Kane and Diego Maradona. He could add to that figure in the 2026 tournament.
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Cristiano Ronaldo international trophies
For all of Ronaldo's individual success with Portugal, he is trailing his longtime foe in team trophies. To date, he has three international trophies with his country — a European Championship in 2016 and a pair of Nations League triumphs in 2019 and 2025, respectively.
The pick of the bunch was Portugal's Euros victory. Ronaldo scored three goals in tournament play, the joint-second-highest-mark. He figured to make a major impact in the tournament finale vs. France but was forced off after 25 minutes with an injury.
Portugal rallied in his absence, with unlikely hero Eder finding the net on a long-range effort in extra time to deliver the Iberian country its first-ever international gem.
When will Ronaldo retire?
Ronaldo confirmed that the 2026 World Cup will be his last during an interview with CNN's Becky Anderson in Nov. 2025.
“I will be 41 years old and I think will be the moment in the big competition,” Ronaldo said.
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He continues to produce at club level, taking home back-to-back Golden Boots as the Saudi Pro League's top-scorer in 2023-24 and 2024-25. Nevertheless, the soon-to-be 41-year-old admitted he doesn't have much longer on the pitch.
“I’m enjoying the moment, but when I mean soon, it’s really soon because I gave everything for football,” Ronaldo told Anderson.
“I’m in the game for the last 25 years. I did everything. I have many records in the different scenarios in the clubs and also in the national teams. I’m really proud, so let’s enjoy the moment, live the moment.”
Cristiano Ronaldo international career timeline
Ronaldo made his senior debut for Portugal in Aug. 2003, taking the field as a substitute during a friendly against Kazakhstan. He took the world by storm during Portugal's run to the European Championship final the following year, tallying two goals and two assists for the Selecao das Quinas, who fell to shock winner Greece. He was summarily named to the competition's team of the tournament.
Ronaldo made his World Cup debut in 2006. The then-Manchester United star found the net in Portugal's 2-0 win over Iran, becoming the country's youngest-ever goalscorer (21 years, 132 days). He became something of a pariah during Portugal's semifinals run, drawing fans' ire after intentionally getting his club teammate Wayne Rooney in a quarterfinals win over England. The incident is believed to have cost him a shot at landing the Best Young Player prize — it was instead awarded to Germany's Lukas Podolski.
Ronaldo was named Portugal's captain in 2008. He endured a few dry spells in the 2010 and 2014 World Cups, failing to record a tally in the former tournament while only bagging one — albeit a winner — in the latter.
Ronaldo was co-recipient of the Silver Boot after recording three goals as Portugal downed France to secure its first ever international trophy at the 2016 European Championships. He became the oldest player to record a hat trick in the 2018 World Cup, striking thrice as Portugal drew with Iberian rival Spain. He scored four goals in the competition, securing a place on the team of the tournament.
Ronaldo added to his international trophy tally after piloting Portugal to victory in the inaugural Nations League in 2019. He was the nascent tournament's top scorer, recording three strikes in four matches.
During the 2020 Euros, Ronaldo repeated the feat, finishing as the spectacle's co-top-scorer alongside Czech Republic's Patrik Schik. Despite his exploits, Portugal lost to Belgium in the Round of 16.
Ronaldo became men's international football's all-time leading goal-scorer during the tourney, breaking Iranian Ali Daei's record with a pair of goals against France.
He became Europe's most-capped men's player in Oct. 2021, overtaking longtime teammate Sergio Ramos with his 181st cap. After stroking home a penalty against Ghana in the 2022 World Cup, Ronaldo became the first player to net goals in five different World Cups.
Ronaldo captured the all-time international caps record among men's players in 2023.