The 2026 FIFA World Cup began on Thursday with a dynamic start as Mexico defeated South Africa 2-0 at the iconic Estadio Azteca. Julian Quinones scored the opening goal of the tournament for El Tri just nine minutes into the match. Later in the game, Raul Jimenez extended the lead to 2-0 in the 67th minute.

While Mexico celebrated their victory, another storyline emerged regarding one of the tournament’s favorites, Portugal. Ryan O’Hanlon from ESPN highlighted a concerning statistic: no player over the age of 40 has ever won a World Cup. Cristiano Ronaldo, now 41, faces this historical trend as he approaches the tournament. The Italian goalkeeper Dino Zoff holds the record as the oldest World Cup winner, having clinched the title at age 40 in 1982.

Ronaldo, embarking on his sixth World Cup, is yet to capture this elusive trophy. Despite his age, he remains a formidable force. Over the last year, he has surpassed 970 career goals and has shown outstanding performance with Al Nassr, scoring 28 goals in 30 starts. Additionally, Ronaldo is Portugal’s top scorer with 143 national team goals and continued his strong form with five goals in five World Cup Qualifying matches in 2025.

Portugal’s squad for this World Cup is arguably the strongest Ronaldo has been part of, featuring talents such as Bruno Fernandes, Vitinha, Rafael Leao, Nuno Mendes, Joao Neves, and Bernardo Silva. However, the challenge of overcoming age-related records still looms.

Portugal will commence their World Cup campaign in Group K, starting against DR Congo in Houston on June 17, followed by Uzbekistan on June 23, and culminating with a match against Colombia in Miami on June 27.