Portugal’s qualification for the World Cup means Ronaldo is set to join Messi in the record books in Qatar.
Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi will compete in a World Cup tournament this winter for the fifth time in their careers.
In doing so, they’ll join an exclusive group of four players to have done so. These are Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon, German midfielder Lothar Matthaus, and Mexican duo Rafael Marquez and Antonio Carbajal.
The pair were both in action on Tuesday for another round of qualifiers. Ronaldo helped Portugal beat North Macedonia 2-0 in a play-off final to qualify for the World Cup, while Messi played in Argentina’s 1-1 draw against Ecuador.
Players to have played in five World Cup finals
| PLAYER | NATION | TOURNAMENTS |
|---|---|---|
| Antonio Carbajal | 🇲🇽 | 1950, 1954, 1958, 1962, 1966 |
| Lothar Matthäus | 🇩🇪 | 1982, 1986, 1990, 1994, 1998 |
| Rafael Márquez | 🇲🇽 | 2002, 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018 |
| Gianluigi Buffon | 🇮🇹 | 1998*, 2002, 2006, 2010, 2014 |
* Buffon made Italy’s World Cup squad for 1998, but he didn’t make an appearance.
What are Ronaldo and Messi’s World Cup stats?
The forwards have featured in the last four World Cups in Germany (2006), South Africa (2010), Brazil (2014), and Russia (2018).
Ronaldo has played in 17 games in the tournament, managing seven goals and two assists. The Manchester United star’s best result was a fourth-place in the 2006 World Cup.
Messi, on the other hand, has made 19 World Cup appearances. The PSG forward has scored six goals and made five assists in the finals. His best result was a second-place finish in the 2014 tournament.
Be sure not to miss out on the latest news about Rafael Marquez
Download our brand new App and follow your favorite players, clubs, and much more
