Cristiano Ronaldo has etched his name further into football’s history books after being named in Portugal’s squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, making him the first male player ever to feature at six World Cup tournaments.

Head coach, Roberto Martinez announced the 27-man squad on Tuesday, with the 41-year-old Al Nassr forward once again leading the line for the Selecao as they chase the one major trophy that has eluded both the player and the nation throughout their decorated history.

The inclusion of Ronaldo, who already holds the men’s records for most international appearances and international goals with 143 strikes for his country, was widely anticipated but no less historic for it.

The squad announcement carried an emotional dimension beyond Ronaldo’s record-setting selection, as Martinez paid a deeply moving tribute to the late Diogo Jota, the Liverpool forward who was killed in a car crash in Spain last July at the age of 28.

In announcing what he described as a squad of 27 names plus one, Martinez declared that Jota would be considered a permanent, honorary member of the group. “To lose Diogo was an unforgettable moment and a very difficult moment. But the next day it was a responsibility for all of us to fight for Diogo Jota’s dream and for the example that he was in our national team. The spirit, the strength, the example of Diogo Jota, the plus one. He will be the plus one forever,” the Spanish coach said.

Beyond Ronaldo, the squad is packed with quality from Europe’s most elite clubs. Bruno Fernandes of Manchester United and Bernardo Silva of Manchester City will provide the creative engine behind the captain, while a significant contingent from Paris Saint-Germain has been included in the form of Vitinha, João Neves, Nuno Mendes, and Gonçalo Ramos, four players who are currently preparing for the Champions League final against Arsenal in Budapest on 30 May. Rafael Leão, João Félix also Ronaldo’s club teammate at Al Nassr Pedro Neto, Francisco Conceição, and Francisco Trincão complete an attacking unit of considerable depth and variety. Notable absentees from the final selection include António Silva and João Palhinha, with Martinez said to have personally contacted most of those who did not make the cut.

Portugal enter the tournament in strong form, having won the UEFA Nations League and completed an impressive qualifying campaign. They are placed in Group K, where they will open against DR Congo on 17 June in Houston, before facing Uzbekistan and Colombia on 23 and 27 June respectively. Martinez was measured in his assessment of his team’s prospects, acknowledging their quality while cautioning against placing them among the outright favourites. “The World Cup is not about playing well, not about having talent. There are many challenges. I think only a national team that has already won the World Cup can be a favourite,” he said.

The tournament also raises the tantalising prospect of a final on-pitch meeting between Ronaldo and his eternal rival Lionel Messi, with Argentina’s captain set to feature at his own sixth World Cup as the defending champions. The two legends cannot meet in the group stage but, should both nations progress as group winners through the knockout rounds, a quarter-final collision between the two most celebrated footballers of their generation remains a possibility a fitting final chapter to one of sport’s greatest rivalries.