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Has Cristiano Ronaldo Won a World Cup?
(Photo by Miguel Lemos/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images)

The Portuguese national team has become one of the strongest teams in the previous World Cups and a potential dark horse in the 2026 World Cup.

Portugal struggled to qualify for the World Cups in the past, but it has become a constant ever since Cristiano Ronaldo played for the national team. Ronaldo played in five World Cups throughout his career, starting in 2006 and continuing to 2022.

Despite helping Portugal qualify for five World Cups in a row, Ronaldo has not won the World Cup with Portugal.

In the previous World Cup, the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, Portugal reached the quarterfinals, but they were eliminated by Morocco after losing 1-0.

It was Portugal's best World Cup finish in years, but it wasn't the best in their history, nor in Ronaldo's time with Portugal in World Cups.

Cristiano Ronaldo's Stats in World Cups With Portugal

Cristiano Ronaldo #7 of Portugal heads the ball during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 quarterfinal match against Morocco.Photo by Fu Tian/China News Service/VCG via Getty Images

Ronaldo has played 22 World Cup games for Portugal and has scored eight goals across five World Cups. Ronaldo made history in 2022 as he became the first player in football history to score in five consecutive World Cups.

The World Cup where Ronaldo scored the most goals was the 2018 World Cup, finishing the tournament with four goals. In his first World Cup, in 2006, Ronaldo was 21 years old and scored one goal in the tournament.

  • 2006 World Cup: 1 goal
  • 2010 World Cup: 1 goal / 1 assist
  • 2014 World Cup: 1 goal / 1 assist
  • 2018 World Cup: 4 goals
  • 2022 World Cup: 1 goal

SEE ALSO: How Many World Cups Has Lionel Messi Won?

Cristiano Ronaldo in the 2006 World Cup

Ronaldo's first World Cup with Portugal was in the 2006 World Cup in Germany. Portugal reached the semifinals of the competition, and Ronaldo played in six of Portugal's seven games.

Ronaldo started in all six games he played for Portugal in the 2006 World Cup. Portugal was in Group D along with Mexico, Iran, and Angola. Portugal topped the group with nine points after three wins.

In the second group stage match, Ronaldo scored Portugal's second goal against Iran through a penalty kick to give them a 2-0 win.

In the knockout stage, Portugal got past the Netherlands in the Round of 16, past England in the quarterfinals, but lost 1-0 to France in the semifinals. Portugal lost the third-place match against Germany and lost 3-1, leading them to a 4th place finish.

Ronaldo only missed the group stage match against Mexico. The 2006 World Cup was the second-best World Cup finish of their country's history; Portugal's best World Cup finish was in the 1966 World Cup, where they finished 3rd.

Cristiano Ronaldo in the 2018 World Cup

Ronaldo's best-performing World Cup was in the 2018 World Cup, where he scored four goals in the tournament.

Portugal was in Group B with Spain, Iran, and Morocco. Ronaldo scored a hat trick in Portugal's first group stage match of the tournament against Spain, which finished in a 3-3 draw.

Ronaldo scored his fourth goal in the second group stage match against Morocco, which led to them winning 1-0. Portugal then drew 1-1 with Iran and finished second in the group. In the Round of 16, Portugal lost 2-1 to Uruguay and was knocked out of the tournament.

Cristiano Ronaldo in the 2022 World Cup

Ronaldo's last World Cup with Portugal was in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Portugal was in Group H with South Korea, Uruguay, and Ghana.

Portugal topped the group with six points with a record of two wins and one loss. In their first group stage match against Ghana, Ronaldo scored through a penalty kick, and Portugal won the game 3-2.

Ronaldo started the match against Uruguay and South Korea, but was not performing and was dropped from the starting lineup for the Round of 16 match against Switzerland.

Portugal's head coach, then Fernado Santos, benched Ronaldo and replaced him with Goncalo Ramos, who scored a hat trick in Portugal's 6-1 win over Switzerland. Portugal started with Ramos for the quarterfinals against Morocco, but they lost the match.

Ronaldo came on the pitch in the second half, but he wasn't able to score and avoid Portugal being knocked out of the competition.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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