It is hard not to get excited about a Portugal squad brimming with talent as the 2026 FIFA World Cup approaches.

Ronaldo, who debuted for Portugal at 18 in August of 2003, is comfortably the country's leader in all-time appearances (226, 80 more than Joao Moutinho) and goals (143, 96 more than Pauleta).

Since stepping into professional football in 2002, Cristiano Ronaldo has dazzled audiences from Lisbon to Manchester, Madrid, and now Saudi Arabia. He has conquered Europe with both club and country, and in his glittering career, he is steadily moving toward the unbelievable milestone of 1,000 goals.

Cristiano Ronaldo finally did it.

Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice as Al Nassr clinched the Saudi Pro League title with a 4-1 win over Damac on Thursday, ending his long wait for domestic silverware.

Veteran Portugal striker Cristiano Ronaldo will lead his country into the 2026 World Cup this summer after coach Roberto Martinez named the 41-year-old in his squad on Tuesday.

Ronaldo's wait for his first piece of silverware since signing a big-money deal to join Al Nassr in 2023 was extended by the Japanese club, who withstood a second-half barrage by the Saudi side.

Lionel Messi's career seemed complete after he led Argentina to victory at the 2022 World Cup, but the motivation to keep playing is still there for him and his great rival Cristiano Ronaldo as the duo prepare to make history at this year's tournament in North America.

It was deep into the night. Under the floodlights of the Al Thumama Stadium, the lush green pitch still glowed with celebration in Morocco’s green and red.

The 41-year-old broke the deadlock with a 76th-minute header at Al-Awwal Park, helping Al-Nassr move eight points clear of second-placed Al-Hilal and 13 ahead of third-placed Al-Ahli, although both chasing sides have a game in hand.

The 41-year-old Ronaldo is set to appear in a record sixth World Cup in June, a tournament expected to be the final major chapter of the forward's career.

Cristiano Ronaldo marked his return from a month-long injury layoff by scoring twice in the second half as Al Nassr maintained their winning run with a 5-2 victory over bottom side Al Najma in the Saudi Pro League on Friday.

Cristiano Ronaldo, who is currently nursing a hamstring injury, was on Friday left out of the Portugal squad to play pre-World Cup friendlies against tournament co-hosts Mexico and the United States later this month.

From 1930 to 2022, a total of 2,720 goals have been scored in 964 matches across 22 editions of the FIFA World Cup. Yet among those thousands of strikes, some are far more than mere statistics – they are enduring stories etched into football folklore.

"It has been a long-time ambition of mine to contribute to football," the statement quoted Ronaldo as saying.

The 41-year-old icon netted his 500th and 501st goals since turning 30 -- an astonishing feat that underlines his legendary longevity at the top level.

Al Nassr fans showed their support for Cristiano Ronaldo on Friday as the Portuguese star missed a second straight game after reportedly growing frustrated over transfers.

According to CBS Sports, senior club officials understand Ronaldo's vexation with the Public Investment Fund [PIF], the Saudi Arabian sovereign wealth fund that owns Al-Nassr, Al-Hilal and two other Pro League sides.

Ivan Toney scored twice and provided one assist as Al-Ahli handed Cristiano Ronaldo's Al-Nassr their first Saudi Pro League defeat of the season with a 3-2 victory on Friday.

Modric said Mourinho’s directness set him apart. He recalled a striking moment involving Ronaldo during Mourinho’s tenure at the Bernabeu.