Will Cristiano Ronaldo play at home in the 2030 World Cup? The coach of Portugal believes it
Portugal manager Roberto Martnez has refused to rule out the possibility of Cristiano Ronaldo featuring at the 2030 FIFA World Cup, when the Portugal striker will be 45 years old. The comments come as Ronaldo prepares to lead Portugal to their sixth World Cup, this year in the US, Mexico and Canada.
Discussion around Ronaldo’s longevity adds to the wider debate about how elite athletes are redefining career spans in modern football through fitness, discipline and the evolving science of sports.
“Nobody should doubt it (he could play in 2030),” Martnez said during an appearance on Cadena SER radio, as quoted by Reuters. “He earned it.
Ronaldo, who made his debut for Portugal in 2003 at the age of 18, remains with 226 appearances and his all-time top scorer with 143 goals. He has been central to Portugal’s recent success, leading them to the Euro 2016 title and fourth place at the 2006 World Cup – their best finish in 40 years.
“I have worked with many players who have won the Champions League or the Ballon d’Or and the next day they lose their appetite. What we have with Ronaldo is an example of a different mentality,” he added. “I believe having that goal is what allows for longevity. Of course there’s the genetic aspect, the work he puts in — he uses whatever can help his body — and his mentality.”
He also became the first player to score in five different World Cups with a penalty against Ghana in Qatar 2022. Ronaldo and Lionel Messi are expected to appear at the 2026 World Cup, which would mark a record sixth appearance at the tournament.
DOOR OPEN FOR RONALDO
Portugal are set to compete in Group K at the expanded 2026 World Cup with 48 teams, kicking off their campaign against the Democratic Republic of Congo in Houston on June 17. While the focus remains on the upcoming tournament, Martnez’s comments have already shifted focus to what could be an unprecedented extension of Ronaldo’s international journey.
The idea of Ronaldo playing in 2030, a home World Cup would require him to maintain the elite physical and competitive standards well into his mid-40s, something few footballers in history have achieved at international level. But Martnez’s backing highlights the striker’s extraordinary longevity and influence, as well as Portugal’s continued reliance on his experience and leadership.
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Published on:
30 May 2026 15:07 IST