Cristiano Ronaldo added another impressive chapter to his glittering career by becoming the all-time leading goalscorer FIFA World Cup Portugal beat Croatia 2-1 in a thrilling Round of 32 match on Thursday.At the age of 41 years and 147 days, the Portuguese captain converted a penalty in the second half to rewrite the record books, further. Lionel Messi as the oldest player to score in a World Cup tournament. It was again RonaldoThe first goal of the FIFA World Cup, which made the field even more important.Portugal qualified for the Round of 16 despite a late finish that included a goal disallowed by Croatia.Ronaldo also became the second-highest goalscorer in FIFA World Cup history. Only Cameroonian legend Roger Milla, who scored at the age of 42 years and 39 days in the 1994 tournament, is ahead of the Portuguese icon on the all-time list.
Ronaldo is rewriting the World Cup books
Ronaldo’s historic strike was another reminder of his longest career at the highest level. The oldest player to ever play for Portugal at a World Cup, he now holds the record for the oldest player to score in a FIFA World Cup knockout match.The game also marked Ronaldo’s 26th appearance in the World Cup, taking him past the most notable names and leaving him just one behind German great Lothar Matthäus (27) on the all-time list. The captain of the Argentina team, Lionel Messi, still has 29 matches at the World Cup.The 41-year-old’s latest heroics come amid growing speculation that the 2026 FIFA World Cup could be the final international tournament of his senior career. Although the retirement rumors continue, Ronaldo still has a contract with Al Nassr until the 2026-2027 season.
Oldest player to make a knock in a World Cup
Ronaldo’s inclusion in Portugal’s starting line-up also saw him set another benchmark before the ball was kicked.At 41 years and 147 days, he became the oldest player to start a FIFA World Cup knockout match, surpassing the record set yesterday by Bosnia and Herzegovina captain Edin Dzeko, who started against the United States at the age of 40 years and 106 days.Croatian captain Luka Modricaged 40 years and 296 days, he appeared again from the start, making it the first men’s FIFA World Cup game to feature two players over the age of 40 on opposite sides.The updated list of the oldest players to start a knockout match at the men’s World Cup now reads:
- Cristiano Ronaldo (
Portugal vs Croatia ) – 41 years, 147 days - Luka Modric (Croatia vs Portugal) – 40 years, 296 days
- Edin Dzeko (Bosnia and Herzegovina vs USA) – 40 years, 106 days