Cristiano Ronaldo said he is physically "fine" despite not scoring in Portugal’s pre-World Cup friendlies as the 41-year-old prepares for his sixth FIFA World Cup starting June 17, 2026 [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]. His unbeaten record of World Cup appearances for men’s players will continue as Portugal opens Group K against DR Congo in Houston, Texas [1, 2, 3, 4, 5].
Ronaldo has had a strong club season, netting 28 goals for Al Nassr and helping them win the Saudi Pro League title [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]. He also led Portugal’s World Cup qualifying campaign with five goals, starting in five of six matches and averaging 1.23 goals per 90 minutes [1, 2, 3]. He remains Portugal’s all-time leading player with 227 appearances and 143 goals for the men’s national team [4, 5].
Manager Roberto Martinez continues to make Ronaldo the focal point of Portugal’s attack despite concerns about the physical demands of playing up to eight matches in 33 days at the tournament [1, 2, 3]. Ronaldo acknowledged the team’s preparation has been "good but tiring" and emphasized the importance of starting well and handling pressure: "It has been good but tiring because we’ve worked hard. We’ve had the upper hand in our matches, but what matters most is when the ball starts rolling on the 17th... that’s when we’ll see the true champions," he said [1, 2, 3, 4, 5].
Portugal is viewed as having one of its strongest squads, featuring players such as Bruno Fernandes, Vitinha, and João Neves from top European clubs [4, 5]. Ronaldo said, "The key is to start well, finish top of the group. Then it’s one game at a time, step by step, taking it calmly, building confidence and getting into our rhythm" [5].
Other veteran stars like Luka Modric, 40, and Lionel Messi, 39, are also expected to play major minutes in the tournament [1, 2, 3]. Portugal’s group stage continues with matches against Uzbekistan on June 23 and Colombia on June 28 [1, 4, 5].
