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Cristiano Ronaldo has remained at the pinnacle of world football for over twenty years, continuing to perform at an elite level well into his forties.

At 41 years of age, Ronaldo shows no signs of slowing down as he continues to extend his extraordinary career, marked by longevity and consistency.

The Portuguese icon is featuring in his sixth World Cup, a milestone he shares with his long-time rival Lionel Messi. Mexico’s goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa has also been selected for six World Cups but did not appear in two of them, making Ronaldo’s achievement even more distinct.

Having celebrated his 41st birthday on February 5, Ronaldo now jointly holds yet another remarkable record in a career filled with both team and individual accolades.

Born on February 5, 1985, in Funchal — the capital of Madeira, an autonomous Portuguese archipelago — Ronaldo began his footballing journey through the youth ranks of Sporting CP. He moved to Manchester United in 2003 at the age of 18 for a transfer fee of £12 million.

Over six seasons at Old Trafford, the dynamic winger developed from a promising youngster into a global superstar, winning three Premier League titles, the UEFA Champions League, and his first Ballon d’Or in 2008, which honours the world’s best footballer.

In 2009, Ronaldo transferred to Real Madrid for a then-record fee of £80 million, marking the beginning of a nine-year spell in the Spanish capital.

During his tenure with Los Blancos, he played a central role in securing four Champions League trophies and two La Liga titles. He also captured four additional Ballon d’Or awards and became Real Madrid’s all-time leading goalscorer, cementing his legacy as one of football’s greatest ever players.

In 2018, at the age of 33, Ronaldo joined Italian powerhouse Juventus for £99 million. He went on to win two Serie A titles in three seasons before making a sensational return to Manchester United in the summer of 2021.

His second stint at United lasted just over a year, coming to an end in late 2022 following disagreements with then manager Erik ten Hag.

Ronaldo subsequently signed with Saudi Pro League side Al Nassr, where he made an immediate impact, guiding them to the league championship last season. He lifted the trophy in May, aged 41, adding yet another chapter to his illustrious career.

On the international front, Ronaldo continues to make history. He holds the world record for both the most international caps and goals in football. His appearance against Croatia in the World Cup’s Round of 32 was his 232nd for Portugal, while he had netted 145 goals prior to that match.

Ronaldo also became the first male player to score in six separate World Cups after netting twice in Portugal’s 5-0 victory over Uzbekistan during the group stage.

International glory came in 2016 when he captained Portugal to the UEFA European Championship title. However, the FIFA World Cup remains the one major honour missing from his collection, with his best finish being a semi-final appearance in 2006, his debut tournament.