- Portugal's medical staff have confirmed Cristiano Ronaldo is fully fit after a two-week calf scare.
- Roberto Martínez confirmed the captain will start Portugal's opening 2026 World Cup match.
- Ronaldo completed a full training session without restriction on Saturday at the team's base in Atlanta.
- The 41-year-old will lead a Portugal attack also featuring Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva and Rafael Leão.
- This will be Ronaldo's sixth and final World Cup appearance.
Two Weeks of Speculation, One Clear Answer
Portugal's national team announced on Saturday evening that Cristiano Ronaldo has been declared fully fit for the 2026 World Cup, ending two weeks of speculation that began when the captain limped out of a late-May friendly against Croatia with a minor calf complaint.
Roberto Martínez followed up at his pre-tournament press conference, confirming explicitly that Ronaldo would start the opening fixture. The Portugal manager described the captain's training week as among the best of his international career.
The Final World Cup
This will be Ronaldo's sixth and final World Cup appearance. He has scored at five different tournaments, a record matched only by Lionel Messi.
Inside the camp the mood around the captain has been notably calm. Bruno Fernandes told reporters that Ronaldo had been clear that the tournament was about the team rather than any individual milestone. Portugal's opening match is on Tuesday against Egypt, kick-off at 21:00 ET in Atlanta.
Frequently asked
Q01Will Ronaldo play in the 2026 World Cup?
Yes. He has been confirmed fully fit and will start the opening fixture against Egypt.
Q02What injury did Ronaldo have?
A minor calf complaint sustained in a late-May friendly against Croatia. He missed two weeks of training as a precaution.
Q03Is this Ronaldo's last World Cup?
Yes. The 41-year-old has publicly confirmed this is his sixth and final World Cup.