Ronaldo reaches 25 World Cup starts despite Portugal loss to Spain
Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo became the second player in history to start at least 25 World Cup matches after starting Portugal's Round of 16 loss to Spain on Monday night. The 41-year-old Al-Nassr forward could not prevent a 1-0 defeat, with Mikel Merino scoring the late goal that sent Portugal home. According to OptaJoe, Ronaldo now trails only his long-time rival Lionel Messi, who has started 27 World Cup matches across the same five tournaments (2006-2022). Ronaldo's 25 starts come from his five World Cup appearances, matching Messi's tournament count. The result ended Portugal's 2026 World Cup campaign and marked the end of Ronaldo's World Cup journey. The milestone highlights his longevity and durability on football's biggest stage, even as the team fell short of advancing further. With the achievement secured, Ronaldo's personal record stands alongside Messi's, though the absence of a World Cup title remains a notable gap in his resume. With Ronaldo now second only to Messi in World Cup starts, does this cement his legacy as one of the greatest, or does the lack of a World Cup trophy still weigh on his legacy?