FIFA World Cup 2026: Cristiano Ronaldo becomes oldest outfield player to start World Cup match

Cristiano Ronaldo, who broke records at the age of just 41, took to the field as the oldest player to start a World Cup match and completed his extraordinary career in his sixth tournament. (AP photo) At 41 years and 132 days, Cristiano Ronaldo became the oldest outfield player to start a World Cup match, according to Opta data, when he took the starting pitch for Portugal’s 2026 World Cup against DR Congo in Houston. He broke the record of former Canada captain Atiba Hutchinson, who started the 2022 World Cup opener against Belgium at the age of 39 years and 296 days.Ronaldo joined Argentina’s Lionel Messi as the only men to appear in six World Cups, his 23rd World Cup appearance in six editions of the tournament. He enters this year’s competition with eight goals at the World Cup and two assists.But history without a goal stings. And on this occasion, the football gods were not on Ronaldo’s side.Ronaldo narrowly missed shots in the 68th and 73rd minutes and shook his head in disgust after both. The moment the world was waiting for, CR7 scored in a sixth consecutive World Cup, a record not even matched by Lionel Messi, but it didn’t arrive. He played the full 90 minutes and left the field thinking he could show it in person.It was a frustrating game for Ronaldo as Portugal were held to a 1-1 draw by DR Congo in Houston. João Neves had put Portugal ahead with a header as early as the sixth minute, but Yoane Wissa responded with a header from his side on the stroke of half-time to stun a packed NRG Stadium, which was overwhelmingly draped in red and green.It was DR Congo’s first ever World Cup point as they also scored their first ever World Cup goal, a moment of pure joy for the Leopards and their 100 million fans watching at home.Ronaldo remains the only player to score in five consecutive World Cups since 2006. He will have to wait to extend that to six – Uzbekistan are next in Group K.