Cristiano Ronaldo should have at least two targets going into the 2026 World Cup. The first target is to score at least one goal in the knockout stage of the tournament. It will not be a good record if Ronaldo plays his entire World Cup career, scores over 1,000 goals, and does not get at least one goal in the knockout stage.
Softfootball believes, Ronaldo is expected to reach 1,000 career goals, but achieving this milestone without a knockout goal in the World Cup would still raise questions.
The second target is to win the 2026 World Cup. Right now, Ronaldo is among the players with the most World Cup appearances without winning the trophy. As of Friday, April 3, 2026, the list includes:
| Player | World cup Appearance without winning the trophy |
|---|---|
| Cristiano Ronaldo | 22 |
| Javier Mascherano | 20 |
| Luka Modrić | 19 |
| Marc Márquez | 19 |
| Ivan Perišić | 17 |
These are some of the top players with the highest World Cup appearances without winning the tournament. This is why Ronaldo needs to take this World Cup personally and aim to win it.
In the long run, when people discuss the greatest players in football, Ronaldo’s name will always be mentioned. However, there could still be a question mark, especially when compared to players like Pelé, Diego Maradona, and Lionel Messi, who all won the World Cup.
Without a World Cup trophy or at least a knockout stage goal, it may remain difficult for some to place Ronaldo fully in that category, which makes the 2026 World Cup very important for his legacy.
