If one were to create a list of the finest footballers in the history of the European Championships, Cristiano Ronaldo would undoubtedly be near the top, if not at the very summit. The same would hold true if the exercise were repeated for the UEFA Champions League. It is beyond dispute that he stands as Portugal’s greatest ever player, one of Real Madrid’s all-time legends, and, particularly during his first stint, one of Manchester United’s greatest. When evaluating the best footballers in history, Ronaldo would comfortably sit within the top ten—though opinions vary on his exact position, with millions of his fans believing he surpasses everyone, including Lionel Messi.

So why does Ronaldo not feature in this compilation of the 50 greatest players in World Cup history? Quite simply, because his World Cup record does not place him among them. To be blunt, he does not even make the top 100. His legacy and brilliance have largely been forged in other arenas, not on the World Cup stage.

Remarkably, Ronaldo has never scored in the knockout rounds of the World Cup. For comparison, he has netted 67 times in the knockout stages of the Champions League, including four goals in finals. In 2022, Portugal dropped Ronaldo for their last-16 match, and his replacement, Goncalo Ramos, responded with a hat-trick in a 6-1 thrashing of Switzerland.

Ronaldo’s best World Cup performance arguably came during his debut tournament in 2006, when Portugal reached the semi-finals, famously eliminating England along the way. That campaign remains Portugal’s best under his era.

In contrast, the 2010 World Cup was one to forget. Portugal managed just one goal from Ronaldo—against North Korea—before being knocked out by eventual champions Spain in the round of 16. Despite being the team captain, the world’s most expensive player, and a Ballon d’Or winner, Ronaldo failed to deliver the performances expected of him.

In 2014, Ronaldo’s misfortune continued. After a sensational qualifying campaign, including a playoff hat-trick in the thrilling tie that ended Zlatan Ibrahimovic 2 – Ronaldo 3, he arrived at the tournament less than fully fit. He had been in phenomenal form for Real Madrid, scoring 61 goals and helping the club to their long-awaited ‘La Decima’—their 10th European Cup. Yet, despite scoring a late winner against Ghana, Portugal crashed out in the group stage. It was a difficult group, but undeniably a disappointing outcome.

By 2018, Ronaldo delivered his most memorable World Cup performance, beginning with a stunning hat-trick in a 3-3 draw against Spain. He followed that with a winning goal against Morocco. However, once again, Portugal’s journey ended in the round of 16, as they were eliminated by Uruguay and Ronaldo failed to score.

Then came the 2022 World Cup—a tournament to forget for Ronaldo. His personal struggles were magnified by Messi’s triumph as Argentina’s captain, culminating in two goals in the final. Ronaldo did score in his fifth consecutive World Cup, but it came from the penalty spot. He even attempted to claim a goal that was ultimately credited to Bruno Fernandes. Amid growing controversy surrounding his departure from Manchester United, Ronaldo’s performances suffered, leading to his benching by Fernando Santos—a coach who had long been his mentor.

At that time, it appeared Ronaldo’s World Cup career had ended after Portugal’s quarter-final loss to Morocco, where he came on as a substitute. Yet, he continued playing, though increasingly appearing as an obstacle to his own team’s progress in Euro 2024. Despite receiving a red card against Ireland in World Cup qualifying, he remains eligible for the 2026 tournament.

As he prepares for the World Cup in the United States, Ronaldo holds the all-time international records for most appearances (226) and goals (143). There remains a chance that he could face Messi once more, possibly in a quarter-final showdown against Argentina. Perhaps, at his sixth attempt, Ronaldo will finally ascend into the pantheon of World Cup legends. For now, however, that honour still eludes him.