Portugal's 41-year-old striker Cristiano Ronaldo will take the field against Congo on Wednesday to become the first player to score in six World Cups. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing Associated Press.
Ronaldo has scored in every tournament since 2006. His debut comes one day after Lionel Messi opened his sixth World Cup for Argentina.
Messi had 13 goals on 105 shots entering this World Cup, and Ronaldo had eight goals on 103 shots. However, Ronaldo has scored in all five previous World Cup appearances, while Messi failed to find the net in 2010.
"Well, I wish him the best — I hope that he scores but not against us," Congo coach Sébastien Desabre said.
Ronaldo's focus has been on his team's success. "We go match by match, but not with the expectations of winning it all," Ronaldo told reporters in Portugal last week before the team's departure. "It has to be step by step. A good start is the most important thing."
Some Portugal supporters question whether the aging star will be a help or a detriment to the team. After scoring just once in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, Ronaldo was upset after he subbed off against South Korea and benched for the club's first knockout-stage match against Switzerland. He also failed to score in the 2024 European Championship — the first time that has happened at a major international tournament.