Two of the most decorated footballers of their generation will walk onto the pitch in 2026 knowing that time, the one opponent nobody beats, is catching up. Cristiano Ronaldo and James Rodriguez are set to lead Portugal and Colombia in what could be the final World Cup appearance for both players.
Ronaldo will be 41 years old during the 2026 tournament. Rodriguez will be 34.
A first-ever World Cup meeting
Portugal and Colombia have never faced each other in a World Cup group stage before. The 2026 edition, hosted across the US, Canada, and Mexico, will feature an expanded format that has created matchups decades of tournaments never produced.
Rodriguez became a global sensation during the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, where his spectacular goals turned him into a household name overnight. A 2026 appearance at 34 would likely serve as his curtain call on the biggest stage in football. Ahead of the tournament, Rodriguez has been fulfilling club duties in Major League Soccer.
