Also known as: CR7 · Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo — 41-year-old Portugal captain who played his final World Cup in 2026 and hinted at retirement after the tournament.
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Joy Online
… A decisive 2013 World Cup playoff match between Portugal and Sweden — featuring two iconic forwards, Cristiano Ronaldo and the now retired Zlatan Ibrahimović — offered one such test. …
What it takes to be chosen as a World Cup referee – and how to ref the finalJoy Online
Goncalo Ramos grabbed a 94th-minute winner after Cristiano Ronaldo had scored his first goal in a World Cup knockout stage as Portugal came from behind to beat Croatia and progress to the last 16. …
Portugal beat Croatia in chaotic finish to reach World Cup last 16Joy Online
… Just one more reason for them to win the match [against Croatia].” Jota’s picture has appeared on the big screen at the 2026 World Cup While fans have turned up for Portugal’s matches wearing shirts with Jota’s name on the back, players, including captain Cristiano Ronaldo, are w …
‘We want to win World Cup for him’ – Portugal carry Diogo Jota’s memoryJoy Online
… Have you lost count of the number of times Luka Modric and Cristiano Ronaldo have entered major tournaments with pundits declaring it could be the last time we see these superstars on the biggest stage? …
Ronaldo or Modric: Whose World Cup journey ends in Toronto?Joy Online
… Ochoa is in his sixth World Cup campaign, matching Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo and Argentina’s Lionel Messi, although he has only appeared in four of them as he was an unused squad member at the 2006 and 2010 tournaments.
Mexico maintain 100% winning record as Czech Repbublic go homeThe Ghanaian Times
… Much of the fallout from the result focused on Cristiano Ronaldo’s lack of penetration in attack, but Portugal’s problems extended beyond the iconic forward. …
Portugal to make amends against UzbekistanThe Chronicle
Portugal winger Francisco Conceicao insists his teammates felt no pressure to pass to Cristiano Ronaldo following scrutiny of the veteran superstar’s role in their lacklustre World Cup opener. …
No pressure to pass the ball to Ronaldo, Portugal’s Conceicao saysJoy Online
… amal has broken many of Messi’s records at Barcelona, and now he has pipped him on the global stage, too – the Argentine was just shy of his 19th birthday when he netted his first World Cup goal in 2006; the Spaniard has done it two weeks younger. “For Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo …
Lamine Yamal shows why this could be his World CupThe Ghanaian Times
… They also allowed him to join Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo as the only players to have scored in five World Cups. …
Messi equals World Cup scoring record with hat-trickJoy Online
… Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo matched Argentina’s Lionel Messi by playing in a sixth finals, but the 41-year-old was made to wait as he bids to become the first player to score in six different World Cups. …
2026 World Cup: DR Congo stun Portugal to claim point in opening gameReal Madrid manager Jose Mourinho compared Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Jr to fruit trees in their defence after both players were booed by home fans at the Bernabeu this week, saying their achievements and statistics speak for themselves despite criticism over their defensive work.
12 September 2026 · Joy Online →
Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho compared Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Jr to fruit trees in their defence after both players were booed by home fans at the Bernabeu this week, saying their achievements and statistics speak for themselves despite criticism over their defensive work.
12 September 2026 · Joy Online →
Lionel Messi has reached a preliminary agreement to become the majority shareholder of Spanish second-division club Eldense, pending legal procedures and approval from Spain's National Sports Council. This would be his second Spanish club investment after buying Catalan side Cornella in April.
10 September 2026 · Joy Online →
Kylian Mbappe opened the scoring in Real Madrid's victory over Inter Milan, moving joint-fifth on the all-time Champions League and European Cup goalscorers list with 71 goals in 99 appearances.
8 September 2026 · Joy Online →
The Argentine football league will pause all matches in the 10th minute this weekend for a minute of applause to honor Lionel Messi, who announced his retirement from international football on Monday after 207 appearances for Argentina.
4 September 2026 · Daily Guide →
Brazilian forward Gabriel Martinelli has left Arsenal for Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal in a £60m deal, signing a four-year contract after being told he was not part of manager Mikel Arteta's plans. The 25-year-old, who spent seven years at the Gunners, will earn significantly higher wages than his reported £180,000 per week at Arsenal.
4 September 2026 · Joy Online →
Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho expressed concern about September's extended three-week international break, particularly about players joining national teams but not receiving playing time. The break, part of FIFA's revised international calendar for the 2026-27 season, will replace the traditional separate September and October breaks, allowing countries to play four international matches instead of two.
31 August 2026 · Joy Online →
Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes was named the Professional Footballers' Association Player of the Year after providing a Premier League-record 21 assists in the 2025-26 season alongside nine goals. Khadija Shaw of Manchester City was named Women's Player of the Year for the second time after scoring 21 goals in the Women's Super League.
27 August 2026 · The Ghanaian Times →
UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin has ruled out standing for FIFA president in March 2027, though he expects another candidate to challenge Gianni Infantino following widespread opposition to the latter's now-scrapped plan to sell stakes in FIFA competitions to private investors.
25 August 2026 · The Ghanaian Times →
UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin has called Gianni Infantino's abandoned proposal to sell a 21% stake in FIFA competitions' commercial and ticketing rights to a private company "worse than the Super League", saying football would be "literally sold". UEFA led opposition to the plan, with its members voting to boycott World Cups unless it was scrapped.
23 August 2026 · Joy Online →
Cristiano Ronaldo told Vogue that the upcoming year will probably be his last playing professionally, saying he wants to leave a spectacular legacy. The 41-year-old Portugal captain has scored 976 goals across a career spanning more than two decades and will continue with Al-Nassr this season.
18 August 2026 · The Ghanaian Times →
Cristiano Ronaldo told Vogue that this season is probably his last as a footballer after a 25-year career, saying he wants to leave a spectacular legacy and has mapped out post-football plans including family, travel, and padel. The 41-year-old Portugal captain has one year remaining on his Al-Nassr contract and is 24 goals short of 1,000 senior career goals.
16 August 2026 · Joy Online →
Portuguese soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo, 41, married model Georgina Rodríguez, 32, in a civil ceremony on August 11, 2026, in Cascais, Portugal, attended by their five children. The couple had announced their engagement one year earlier on August 11, 2025.
11 August 2026 · Joy Online →
Jorge Jesus, 71, has reached full agreement with the Portuguese Football Federation to become Portugal coach after Roberto Martinez stepped down following a 1-0 World Cup last-16 loss to Spain. Jesus will sign a four-year contract running until the 2030 World Cup co-hosted by Portugal, Spain, and Morocco.
10 July 2026 · The Ghanaian Times →
Spain face Belgium in a World Cup quarter-final with Spain unbeaten in 35 matches under manager Luis de la Fuente, while Belgium advance after a 4-1 victory over the United States.
10 July 2026 · The Ghanaian Times →
The Portuguese Football Federation has confirmed the departure of national team coach Roberto Martinez following Portugal's last-16 loss to Spain in the tournament. Martinez, who held the role since January 2023, had already announced he would be leaving, stating that his objective was to win the World Cup and that continuing would not make sense without achieving it.
8 July 2026 · Joy Online →
Portugal lost 1-0 to Spain in the Round of 16 after Mikel Merino's stoppage-time goal, ending Cristiano Ronaldo's final World Cup appearance. The 41-year-old forward, who confirmed before the tournament this would be his last World Cup, has retired from the competition without winning it despite a career including five Ballon d'Or titles and five UEFA Champions League trophies.
8 July 2026 · Daily Guide →
Cristiano Ronaldo, 41, played his last World Cup match as Portugal lost 1-0 to Spain in the last 16, ending his long-held dream of winning the tournament. The Portugal captain said he would reflect on his future after the disappointing display, though he stressed he leaves "with a clear conscience."
8 July 2026 · The Ghanaian Times →
Cristiano Ronaldo has confirmed that the 2026 World Cup will be his final tournament, as the 41-year-old prepares for Portugal's round of 16 clash against Spain. Ronaldo has played in six World Cups and became the first player to score in six editions of the tournament.
7 July 2026 · The Ghanaian Times →
Mikel Merino scored an injury-time winner for Spain as they knocked Portugal out of the World Cup in Dallas, ending Cristiano Ronaldo's World Cup career. Spain will face either the United States or Belgium in the quarter-final.
6 July 2026 · Joy Online →
Portugal and Spain meet in the World Cup 2026 last 16 at AT&T Stadium on Monday. Portugal defeated Croatia 2-1 in their opening knockout game to reach this stage for the first time in 60 years, while Spain won 3-0 against Austria and remain unbeaten with no goals conceded.
6 July 2026 · The Chronicle →
A record 170 officials—52 referees, 88 assistant referees, and 30 video assistant referees from 50 FIFA member nations—have been chosen for this year's World Cup, which features an expanded format of 48 teams and 104 matches. The contingent includes six women referees, continuing FIFA's inclusion of female officials begun in Qatar.
3 July 2026 · Joy Online →
Goncalo Ramos scored in the 94th minute to give Portugal a 2-1 victory over Croatia and a place in the World Cup last 16, after Cristiano Ronaldo equalized from the penalty spot in the second half and Croatia thought they had rescued the match with a late goal that was ruled out for offside.
3 July 2026 · Joy Online →
Midfielder Diogo Jota, a Liverpool player, died in a car accident in Spain on 3 July 2025, a year before Portugal's World Cup match against Croatia. His teammate Ruben Neves continues to message Jota in a WhatsApp group with Jota's widow and maintains archived conversations to send him messages on special occasions.
2 July 2026 · Joy Online →
Portugal and Croatia meet in the 2026 World Cup Round of 32 in Toronto, a match that could mark the final international tournament appearance for aging superstars Cristiano Ronaldo and Luka Modric. Portugal's performances have been inconsistent while Croatia showed vulnerabilities against England, leaving the match without a clear favourite.
2 July 2026 · Joy Online →
Mexico scored three second-half goals to eliminate the Czech Republic from the World Cup and complete the group phase with maximum points, with teenager Gilberto Mora becoming the sixth-youngest player in history to start a men's World Cup match.
25 June 2026 · Joy Online →
Portugal will face Uzbekistan in their second 2026 FIFA World Cup Group K match at Houston Stadium following a 1-1 draw with DR Congo. Uzbekistan comes into the game after a 3-1 loss to Colombia.
23 June 2026 · The Ghanaian Times →
Portugal winger Francisco Conceicao said teammates feel no pressure to pass to Cristiano Ronaldo, insisting he passes to whoever is in the best position. Conceicao defended Ronaldo as "just another member of the squad" while acknowledging criticism of the 41-year-old's mobility following Portugal's 1-1 draw with the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
23 June 2026 · The Chronicle →
The 18-year-old Lamine Yamal started Spain's match against Saudi Arabia after being limited to 19 minutes in their previous goalless draw with Cape Verde, and was central to Spain's dominant 4-0 performance. His impact lifted the atmosphere and transformed the first half with confident play that impressed former team-mate Cesar Azpilicueta.
21 June 2026 · Joy Online →
Lionel Messi scored three goals in Argentina's 3-0 victory over Algeria, reaching 16 World Cup goals to tie Germany's Miroslav Klose for the tournament's career scoring record.
18 June 2026 · The Ghanaian Times →
Portugal took a sixth-minute lead through Joao Neves but DR Congo equalized in first-half stoppage time when Yoane Wissa headed home, claiming a draw despite Portugal's dominance of possession.
17 June 2026 · Joy Online →