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Cristiano Ronaldo is on course to make football history after being included in Portugal's squad for this summer's World Cup, putting him in position to become the first men's player to appear in six editions of the tournament.
The 41-year-old forward continues to add to a remarkable international career. Ronaldo already holds the men's records for both international appearances and goals, with 226 caps and 143 goals for Portugal. He is currently among a select group of players who have participated in five World Cups.
That group also includes long-time rival Lionel Messi, who is also expected to feature in a sixth World Cup after guiding Argentina to the title in Qatar four years ago.
Ronaldo, who has won the Ballon d'Or five times, has been playing for Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr since joining the side in January 2023. Questions had emerged regarding his World Cup availability after he received a red card during Portugal's qualifying campaign against the Republic of Ireland. However, he avoided a lengthy suspension and remains eligible for all of Portugal's group-stage fixtures.
Portugal head coach Roberto Martinez announced what he described as a squad of "27 players plus one," paying tribute to former Portugal and Liverpool forward Diogo Jota, who died in a car accident last year.
Martinez spoke emotionally about Jota's influence and said his presence continues to inspire the national team. He explained that losing Jota was an extremely difficult experience, but added that the squad had embraced the responsibility of continuing to pursue the standards and values he represented.
Portugal's roster includes several notable stars across Europe's top leagues. Bruno Fernandes is part of the squad as he looks to finish a strong club season with Manchester United. The national team will also benefit from players involved in major club competitions, including Paris Saint-Germain quartet Vitinha, Joao Neves, Nuno Mendes and Goncalo Ramos.
Before beginning their World Cup campaign, Portugal are scheduled to play friendly matches against Chile and Nigeria as preparation.
Portugal open their tournament against DR Congo in Houston on June 17. They will then face Uzbekistan before concluding their Group K fixtures with a meeting against Colombia in Miami. Ronaldo now stands on the verge of another milestone in an already historic career.
