FIFA World Cup 2026: Cristiano Ronaldo becomes oldest outfield player to start a WC game
The Times Of India June 18, 2026 06:39 AM
At 41 years and 132 days old, Cristiano Ronaldo became the oldest outfield player to start a World Cup match, according to Opta data, when he took the field for Portugal's 2026 World Cup opener against DR Congo in Houston. He broke the record of former Canada captain Atiba Hutchinson, who had started the opening match at the 2022 World Cup against Belgium at the age of 39 years and 296 days.
Ronaldo joined Argentina's Lionel Messi as the only men to play in six World Cups, making his 23rd all-time World Cup appearance across six editions of the tournament. He comes into this year's competition with eight career World Cup goals and two assists to his name.
But history without a goal stings. And on this occasion, the footballing gods were not in Ronaldo's favour.
Ronaldo missed shots wide right in the 68th and 73rd minutes, shaking his head in disgust after both. The moment the world was waiting for, CR7 scoring in a sixth consecutive World Cup, a record even Lionel Messi cannot match but it did not arrive. He played the full 90 minutes and left the pitch with nothing to show for it personally.
It was a frustrating game for Ronaldo as Portugal were held to a 1-1 draw by DR Congo in Houston. João Neves had given Portugal the lead with a header in just the sixth minute, but Yoane Wissa responded with a header of his own right on the stroke of half-time to stun a packed NRG Stadium that was overwhelmingly draped in red and green.
It was the first point DR Congo have ever earned at a World Cup, as they also scored their first-ever World Cup goal, a moment of pure joy for the Leopards and their 100 million fans watching back home.
Ronaldo remains the only player to have scored in five consecutive World Cups since 2006. The chance to extend that to six will have to wait — next up, Uzbekistan in Group K.
