C朗拿度第六次征戰世界盃：史上最年長外場球員、與美斯並肩的紀錄，以及葡萄牙令人失望的開局

On June 17, 2026, Cristiano Ronaldo walked onto the pitch at NRG Stadium in Houston to begin his sixth FIFA World Cup — a feat matched only by his great rival Lionel Messi. For the 41-year-old Portugal captain, the occasion was historic and bittersweet. He made history, but his team could only manage a 1-1 draw against a DR Congo side that was playing just its second World Cup match in 52 years.

Ronaldo Reaches a Sixth World Cup — Alongside Messi

Lionel Messi became the first man to play in six World Cups on June 16, 2026, when Argentina beat Algeria 3-0 in Kansas City . Ronaldo matched that feat 24 hours later by taking the pitch against DR Congo, making them the only two male players ever to reach six tournaments . The achievement broke a record previously held by five players: Antonio Carbajal, Andrés Guardado, Rafael Márquez (all Mexico), Lothar Matthäus (Germany), and — until Messi passed him — Cristiano Ronaldo himself .

At 41, Ronaldo Is the Oldest Outfield Player in World Cup History

At 41 years old, Ronaldo is the oldest outfield player ever to feature in a World Cup . He made his World Cup debut in 2006 and has now played across six consecutive editions spanning 20 years . Only three players have appeared in more career World Cup matches than Ronaldo's 23: Messi (27), Lothar Matthäus (25), and Miroslav Klose (24) .

A Frustrating Match: Portugal 1-1 DR Congo

The match itself was a shock to the tournament's expectations. João Neves scored for Portugal in the 6th minute, but Yoane Wissa equalized for DR Congo just before halftime (45'+5') with a header off a cross from Arthur Masuaku . The 1-1 draw gave DR Congo its first-ever World Cup point and — via Wissa's goal — its first-ever World Cup goal in tournament history . Attendance was 68,777 at NRG Stadium in Houston .

Ronaldo failed to score and did not register a single shot on target in the full 90 minutes . He remains on 8 World Cup goals in 23 career World Cup matches, well behind Miroslav Klose's all-time record of 16 . Messi, by contrast, scored a wonder goal against Algeria to take his World Cup tally to 14 .

Ronaldo's Last Dance for the World Cup Trophy

Ronaldo has never won the World Cup. Portugal's best result was a third-place finish in 1966 and a fourth-place finish in 2006. This tournament is widely described as Ronaldo's "last dance" to finally capture the elusive trophy . He has won the Euros (2016) and the Nations League (2019, 2025) with Portugal, but his holy grail remains the World Cup .

Pepe's Absence and a New-Look Portugal Squad

Veteran defender Pepe, Ronaldo's long-time Portugal teammate, did not make the 2026 World Cup squad after retiring from professional football in August 2024, just before the start of the 2024-25 Primeira Liga season . Pepe earned 141 caps for Portugal and was a member of the team that beat France in the Euro 2016 final . Roberto Martínez's 2026 squad featured 11 changes from the 2022 Qatar World Cup roster .

DR Congo's Historic Return to the World Cup

DR Congo qualified for the World Cup for the first time since 1974 (then as Zaire) . The 1-1 draw gave them their first-ever World Cup point and — via Wissa's goal — their first-ever World Cup goal in tournament history . Yoane Wissa's equalizer was more than a goal: it was a moment of national pride for a country that had waited 52 years for its next World Cup moment .