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The 2026 World Cup will mark a first in the history of football. Lionel Messi, Guillermo Ochoa and Cristiano Ronaldo have been selected for their respective national teams and will become the first players to feature in six World Cups.
This achievement represents a level of consistency and sustained high performance never seen before. Until now, the record for the number of World Cup appearances by a single player stood at five tournaments.
Furthermore, the three protagonists of this milestone also share a direct link to the Ballon d’Or. Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are the all-time leading winners of the trophy, having won eight and five awards respectively.
For his part, goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa has one nomination on the official shortlist for the 2007 edition of the award. An unforgettable achievement for football in his home country, as he is the only Mexican player ever to have been nominated for the Ballon d'Or.
Below, we will review the history and career of each of these footballers in the five World Cups they have previously played in.
Lionel Messi’s World Cup history
Germany 2006: Messi made his World Cup debut at the age of 18 under manager José Pékerman. He scored his first World Cup goal in the group stage match against Serbia and Montenegro. Argentina’s journey ended in the quarter-finals after losing to Germany on penalties, a match the forward watched from the bench.
South Africa 2010: With Diego Maradona as manager, Messi took on the role of attacking leader and wore the number 10 shirt. Despite creating clear-cut chances and being the linchpin of the team, he failed to score a single goal during the tournament. The Argentina national team were once again knocked out in the quarter-finals by Germany after losing 4-0.
Brazil 2014: In this edition, Messi captained the side and guided Argentina to the final of the tournament. He scored four goals in the group stage and was instrumental in the knockout rounds. Argentina lost the final 1-0 in extra time to Germany, and the forward was named the tournament’s best player.
Russia 2018: It was an inconsistent campaign for the Argentine side under the management of Jorge Sampaoli. Messi scored a goal against Nigeria that secured qualification to the next round on the final day of the group stage. The team were knocked out of the tournament in the round of 16 after losing 4-3 to France.
Qatar 2022: The forward won the World Cup with Argentina on Qatari soil. Messi scored seven goals throughout the tournament, finding the net in the group stage, the round of 16, the quarter-finals, the semi-finals and twice in the final against France. He was named the tournament’s best player for the second time in his career and achieved his ultimate dream.
North America 2026: Messi is set to feature in his sixth World Cup as part of Argentina’s squad to defend the title. With this appearance, the player will mark twenty years of uninterrupted participation in the world’s premier international tournament.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s World Cup history
Germany 2006: Cristiano Ronaldo played in his first World Cup at the age of 21 under manager Luiz Felipe Scolari. He scored his first goal in the competition from the penalty spot against Iran in the group stage. Portugal progressed to the semi-finals of the tournament and finished in fourth place.
South Africa 2010: Appointed team captain, he led the Portugal national team in the first World Cup held in Africa. Ronaldo scored a goal in the 7-0 victory over North Korea during the group stage. His country’s campaign ended in the round of 16 after a 1-0 defeat to Spain.
Brazil 2014: The striker competed in the South American tournament whilst struggling with physical problems caused by patellar tendinitis. Despite the discomfort, he played in all three group stage matches and scored a goal against Ghana. Portugal failed to secure the points needed to progress to the knockout stages.
Russia 2018: He made a standout start by scoring three goals in the 3-3 draw against Spain in the opening group stage match. His attacking contribution helped the team qualify for the next round of the tournament. Portugal were knocked out of the competition in the round of 16 after losing 2-1 to Uruguay.
Qatar 2022: Ronaldo set a record by scoring a penalty against Ghana, becoming the first player to score in five different editions of the tournament. He lost his place in the starting line-up for the knockout matches following a decision by the coaching staff. Portugal were knocked out in the quarter-finals by Morocco.
North America 2026: The striker adds another World Cup to his career after being included in the official Portugal squad. With this tournament, Ronaldo reaches the milestone of six World Cups in his professional career and will compete in the tournament aged 41, with the aim of achieving the dream that remains unfulfilled.
Guillermo Ochoa’s World Cup history
Germany 2006: At the age of 20, ‘Memo’ Ochoa was selected by manager Ricardo La Volpe. He attended the World Cup as Mexico’s third-choice goalkeeper and did not play a single minute in a tournament where Oswaldo Sánchez was the first-choice goalkeeper. The team were knocked out in the round of 16 by Argentina.
South Africa 2010: Manager Javier Aguirre called him up again to be part of the World Cup squad in Africa. Ochoa spent the entire tournament on the substitutes’ bench, as the coaching staff chose Óscar Pérez as the first-choice goalkeeper. Mexico’s campaign ended in the round of 16, also against Argentina.
Brazil 2014: Under manager Miguel Herrera, Ochoa secured the starting spot for the Mexican national team. He put in an outstanding performance in the group stage against Brazil, where his saves from Neymar’s shots kept the score at 0-0. The team progressed to the round of 16, where they were knocked out by the Netherlands.
Russia 2018: Having established himself as the first-choice goalkeeper under manager Juan Carlos Osorio, Ochoa played in all four of his team’s matches. He played a key role in the 1-0 victory over Germany in the opening group match. He finished the tournament as one of the goalkeepers with the most saves recorded before being knocked out in the round of 16 by Brazil.
Qatar 2022: In his fifth World Cup appearance, he defended the Mexican goal under Gerardo Martino. His standout moment in the tournament was saving a penalty from striker Robert Lewandowski in the match against Poland. The Mexican national team were eliminated in the group stage.
North America 2026: Ochoa joins the exclusive club of six World Cups after receiving his call-up for this edition, organised jointly with the United States and Canada. The goalkeeper will experience this historic tournament with the added bonus of playing matches in his own country, consolidating a two-decade career with the Mexican national team.
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