Cristiano Ronaldo didn’t play in Portugal’s latest World Cup qualifier, but he still became the talk of the internet. The 40-year-old striker shared a celebratory photo on social media after Portugal’s 9-1 win against Armenia,

Portugal head coach Roberto Martinez has insisted that Cristiano Ronaldo still justifies his place in the national team ahead of the 2026 World Cup, highlighting not only his recent goalscoring form at international level but also the "hunger" that drives the 40-year-old five-time Ballon d'Or winner.

Ronaldo has featured at all of those so far except the 2002 World Cup in Japan and South Korea. He has made 22 appearances for Portugal at World Cups, putting him fifth on the all-time list behind, Italy’s Paulo Maldini (23), Germany’s Miroslav Klose (24), Lothar Matthaus (25) and Messi (26).

The Portuguese football federation has reportedly devised a three-pronged argument as part of an appeal to limit Cristiano Ronaldo’s international ban to just one fixture.

Cristiano Ronaldo is heading to another World Cup. Portugal sealed its place at next year's tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico with a 9-1 rout of Armenia on Sunday. Ronaldo missed the match in Porto because of suspension — but in his absence, Portugal ensured he would have the chance to appear at a record sixth World Cup.

Cristiano Ronaldo has sent a message of support to his Portugal team-mates ahead of their meeting with Armenia. The Selecao currently top Group F ahead of the final round of World Cup qualification games but defeat to Ireland on Thursday means they need to win to book their trip stateside next summer.

Despite his 41st birthday coming in less than three months, Cristiano Ronaldo shared his biological age is 28 years old. The five-time Ballon d’Or winner is gearing up for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where he and Lionel Messi will become the only two players in soccer history to play the sport’s biggest tournament six times.

Amid the possibility that the Ireland dismissal could see him miss the 2026 World Cup opener, the 40-year-old veteran set one unwanted record in the process.

It’s reported that three White House officials have confirmed Ronaldo’s planned visit on the same day Trump is scheduled to meet with Mohammed bin Salman, the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia. Given that Ronaldo plays his football in Saudi Arabia with Al-Nassr, it remains unclear whether these meetings are connected.

With a lot of discourse currently around Ronaldo and Portugal, we’ve compared the national team results with and without him since the 2022 World Cup. Since then, Portugal have played a total of 36 matches. Of those, CR7 has featured in 30 and has missed six.

Cristiano Ronaldo and Georgina Rodriguez choose special location for upcoming wedding originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here. Cristiano Ronaldo and Georgina Rodriguez are already making big plans for their upcoming wedding.