Cristiano Ronaldo’s belief that he can appear at a sixth FIFA World Cup has been given a boost after it was confirmed by FIFA that he will not be too old to compete in the opening matches of the 2026 tournament.
The Portugal captain, who was given the first red card of his international career during a match against Ireland earlier this month, had been facing a three-match suspension. The accident also cast doubt on whether the 40-year-old would be fit to play in the start of the World Cup.
FIFA has now ruled that:
- One game of the ban has already been served,
- The other two games are suspended for a year and.
- These two games will be applied if Ronaldo commits another offence over the next year.
Meaning he will now be eligible for matchday one when the World Cup gets up-and-running in the USA, Mexico and Canada.
This win is absolutely massive for Portugal. Ronaldo is the world’s leading international scorer, with 143 goals, and is still pursuing the only trophy he has never won, that title in 2006 remaining his best result.
And with the tournament draw scheduled for December 5, Portugal can plan with no distraction that Ronaldo’s last World Cup mission is entirely intact.
