cristiano ronaldo Becoming the oldest goalscorer in history adds another remarkable chapter to his illustrious career. fifa world cup Portugal made knockout history on Thursday by defeating Croatia 2-1 in a dramatic last-32 tie.At 41 years and 147 days old, the Portuguese captain took a penalty kick in the second half and rewrote the record. Lionel Messi Became the oldest player to score in a World Cup knockout round. Was also RonaldoIt was his first goal in the knockout stages of a World Cup, making the milestone even more important.Despite a tense atmosphere and a Croatian goal being disallowed, Portugal sealed their hopes of advancing to the last 16.Ronaldo also became the second oldest goalscorer in World Cup history. Only Cameroon legend Roger Milla, who scored at the age of 42 years and 39 days at the 1994 World Cup, remains ahead of the Portuguese icon on the all-time goalscoring list.
Ronaldo rewrites World Cup record
Ronaldo’s historic goal was yet another reminder of his extraordinary longevity at the highest level. He is already the oldest player to represent Portugal at the World Cup and now holds the record as the oldest player to score in a men’s World Cup knockout round.The game also marked Ronaldo’s 26th World Cup appearance, surpassing many legends and trailing only German superstar Lothar Matthäus (27) on the all-time appearance list. Argentina captain Messi is the record holder with 29 World Cup matches.The 41-year-old’s latest heroics come amid continued speculation that the 2026 FIFA World Cup could be the final international event of his storied career. Despite continued retirement rumors, Ronaldo’s contract with Al Nasr will last until the 2026-27 season.
The oldest outfield player in a World Cup knockout round
Ronaldo’s selection into Portugal’s starting lineup also allowed him to create another milestone before the ball was kicked off.At 41 years and 147 days old, he became the oldest outfield player ever to start in a knockout round of the Men’s World Cup, surpassing Bosnia and Herzegovina captain Edin Dzeko’s record of 40 years and 106 days when he started against the United States the previous day.captain of croatia Luka ModricAged 40 years and 296 days, the game was eye-catching from the start, the first men’s FIFA World Cup match to feature two outfield players over the age of 40.The latest list of the oldest outfield players in the men’s World Cup knockout rounds is as follows:
- Cristiano Ronaldo (
Portugal vs Croatia ) – 41 years and 147 days - Luka Modric (Croatia vs Portugal) – 40 years and 296 days
- Edin Dzeko (Bosnia and Herzegovina vs United States) – 40 years, 106 days
