A huge replica of the World Cup trophy is seen during the opening ceremony ahead of the 2026 World Cup Group A football match between Mexico and South Africa at the Mexico City Stadium in Mexico City on June 11, 2026. (Photo by Alfredo ESTRELLA / AFP)
Football icons Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi are set to make history at the 2026 FIFA World Cup by becoming the first players to actively participate in six editions of the tournament, while Mexico goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa joins them as another player to be named in six World Cup squads, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
The trio made their World Cup debuts at Germany 2006 and have remained fixtures on the global stage over the last two decades. While Messi and Ronaldo are expected to feature for Argentina and Portugal, respectively, in North America, Ochoa’s inclusion in Mexico’s squad makes him only the third player to reach the six-World Cup milestone.
Curiously, despite dominating world football for nearly two decades and appearing at the same five previous World Cups, Messi and Ronaldo have never faced each other at the tournament.
Their only international meeting came in a friendly match in Geneva in February 2011, although they have gone head-to-head 35 times at club level.
