Cristiano Ronaldo has cemented his status as one of the greatest players in World Cup history, holding a clutch of records that span more than two decades of international football.

Scoring at six World Cups

No player in history has scored at more World Cup tournaments than Ronaldo. The Portugal captain has netted at six separate editions of the competition — a mark of extraordinary longevity for a player who first dazzled on the world stage 22 years ago.

Ronaldo shares the record for most tournaments played with his long-term rival Lionel Messi, with both men having featured at the 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022, and 2026 editions. Before this year, no player had appeared at more than five World Cups, and the idea of two players competing in tournaments 20 years apart was unthinkable.

Croatia's Luka Modric also reached six tournaments as a player, having first appeared in 2006 — though he missed the 2010 edition.

Most tournaments named in a squad

Three players have been included in World Cup squads on six occasions, whether or not they appeared on the pitch. Ronaldo and Messi are two of them. The third is Mexico's legendary goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa, who has been called up to every tournament the other two attended, though he did not feature on the field at all of them.

Most goals in World Cup qualification

Before a player can chase glory at the World Cup, they must first earn their place there. Ronaldo has done so emphatically, scoring 41 goals in World Cup qualification — more than any other player in history. That tally spans from the 2006 qualifying campaign to the present day.

Combined with his record as the all-time leading scorer and most-capped player at international level, Ronaldo's World Cup records paint the portrait of a player whose career has redefined what is possible in the modern game.