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Ronaldo Becomes Oldest Outfield Player in FIFA World Cup History: The countdown to the FIFA World Cup 2026 has begun, but the start was not quite what Portugal, a footballing powerhouse, had hoped for. In their opening match, Portugal had to share the points after playing out a 1-1 draw against a less experienced team, DR Congo.
This start is being viewed as a major setback for Portugal, given that the DR Congo team is participating in the FIFA World Cup for the first time since 1974. However, amidst this disappointing team performance, Portugal's star striker Cristiano Ronaldo managed to once again etch his name in history.
Cristiano Ronaldo Breaks Historic World Cup Record
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Upon stepping onto the pitch, Ronaldo broke a world record that speaks volumes about his fitness and dedication to the sport. By starting a World Cup match at the age of 41 years and 132 days, Cristiano Ronaldo set a new FIFA World Cup record for the oldest outfield player in the tournament's history.
Ronaldo Surpasses Canada's Atiba Hutchinson Record
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Previously, this record was held by Canadian veteran Atiba Hutchinson. Hutchinson had started a match against Croatia during the 2022 Qatar World Cup at the age of 39 years and 296 days. Ronaldo has now significantly surpassed that record.
Also Read: FIFA World Cup Winners List: Teams with the Most Titles
Ronaldo Becomes Second Footballer to Play in 6 FIFA World Cups
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Ronaldo achieved another major milestone by being included in the starting XI against DR Congo. He has joined the select group of players worldwide who have represented their teams in six different FIFA World Cups.
Interesting Fact: Just before Ronaldo, the Argentine wizard Lionel Messi also achieved this feat at the 2026 World Cup. Ronaldo has now become the second player in the world, after Messi, to accomplish this.
Cristiano Ronaldo's Historic FIFA World Cup Journey (2006 - 2026)
- 2006: Germany (First World Cup)
- 2010: South Africa
- 2014: Brazil
- 2018: Russia
- 2022: Qatar
- 2026: North America (Historic sixth World Cup)
Also Read: Oldest Footballers to Score a Hat-Trick in FIFA World Cup History
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