Cristiano Ronaldo will equal a special World Cup record in Qatar

The five-time Ballon d’Or winner has made the final cut for Portugal’s 2022 World Cup squad.

Cristiano Ronaldo is on course to become only the fifth player in football history to feature in five World Cup tournaments.

Portugal manager Fernando Santos confirmed Ronaldo’s spot in his 26-man squad for the upcoming 2022 World Cup in Qatar on Thursday. The forward’s Manchester United teammates Bruno Fernandes and Diogo Dalot also made the final cut.

As a result, Ronaldo has moved one step closer to matching the record of five World Cup appearances.

His former Juventus teammate Gianluigi Buffon (Italy), Lothar Matthaus (Germany), Antonio Carbajal (Mexico), and Rafael Marquez (Mexico) are the only four players to achieve this feat so far.

Ronaldo made his World Cup debut for Portugal in 2006, where he helped the team to a fourth-place finish in Germany. He has also taken part in the 2010, 2014, and 2018 editions of the competition.

Uma vez mais, prontos para elevar bem alto o nome de Portugal! São 26 os nomes na lista do Mister Fernando Santos, mas estamos todos convocados! Força Portugal!💪🏽🙏🏽 pic.twitter.com/ZYrmIs4deq

— Cristiano Ronaldo (@Cristiano) November 10, 2022

Portugal 2022 World Cup squad

Goalkeepers: Diogo Costa (Porto), Rui Patricio (AS Roma), Jose Sa (Wolves).

Defenders: Diogo Dalot (Manchester United), Joao Cancelo (Manchester City), Ruben Dias (Manchester City), Raphael Guerreiro (Borussia Dortmund), Nuno Mendes (Paris St-Germain), Pepe (Porto), Danilo Pereira (PSG), Antonio Silva (Benfica).

Midfielders: William Carvalho (Real Betis), Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United), Joao Mario (Benfica), Ruben Neves (Wolves), Matheus Nunes (Wolves), Otavio (Porto), Joao Palhinha (Fulham), Bernardo Silva (Manchester City), Vitinha (PSG).

Forwards: Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United), Joao Felix (Atletico Madrid), Ricardo Horta (SC Braga), Rafael Leao (AC Milan), Goncalo Ramos (Benfica), Andre Silva (RB Leipzig).

Ronaldo and Portugal will play Nigeria in a friendly first on November 17 in Lisbon. They will then face Ghana for their Group H opener in the World Cup a week later.