Veteran Portugal striker Cristiano Ronaldo will lead his country into the 2026 World Cup this summer after coach Roberto Martinez named the 41-year-old in his squad on Tuesday.

Ronaldo's wait for his first piece of silverware since signing a big-money deal to join Al Nassr in 2023 was extended by the Japanese club, who withstood a second-half barrage by the Saudi side.

Lionel Messi's career seemed complete after he led Argentina to victory at the 2022 World Cup, but the motivation to keep playing is still there for him and his great rival Cristiano Ronaldo as the duo prepare to make history at this year's tournament in North America.

It was deep into the night. Under the floodlights of the Al Thumama Stadium, the lush green pitch still glowed with celebration in Morocco’s green and red.

The 41-year-old broke the deadlock with a 76th-minute header at Al-Awwal Park, helping Al-Nassr move eight points clear of second-placed Al-Hilal and 13 ahead of third-placed Al-Ahli, although both chasing sides have a game in hand.

The 41-year-old Ronaldo is set to appear in a record sixth World Cup in June, a tournament expected to be the final major chapter of the forward's career.

Cristiano Ronaldo marked his return from a month-long injury layoff by scoring twice in the second half as Al Nassr maintained their winning run with a 5-2 victory over bottom side Al Najma in the Saudi Pro League on Friday.

Cristiano Ronaldo, who is currently nursing a hamstring injury, was on Friday left out of the Portugal squad to play pre-World Cup friendlies against tournament co-hosts Mexico and the United States later this month.

From 1930 to 2022, a total of 2,720 goals have been scored in 964 matches across 22 editions of the FIFA World Cup. Yet among those thousands of strikes, some are far more than mere statistics – they are enduring stories etched into football folklore.

"It has been a long-time ambition of mine to contribute to football," the statement quoted Ronaldo as saying.

The 41-year-old icon netted his 500th and 501st goals since turning 30 -- an astonishing feat that underlines his legendary longevity at the top level.

Al Nassr fans showed their support for Cristiano Ronaldo on Friday as the Portuguese star missed a second straight game after reportedly growing frustrated over transfers.

According to CBS Sports, senior club officials understand Ronaldo's vexation with the Public Investment Fund [PIF], the Saudi Arabian sovereign wealth fund that owns Al-Nassr, Al-Hilal and two other Pro League sides.

Ivan Toney scored twice and provided one assist as Al-Ahli handed Cristiano Ronaldo's Al-Nassr their first Saudi Pro League defeat of the season with a 3-2 victory on Friday.

Modric said Mourinho’s directness set him apart. He recalled a striking moment involving Ronaldo during Mourinho’s tenure at the Bernabeu.

Kylian Mbappe matched Cristiano Ronaldo’s legendary scoring mark, Lionel Messi redefined longevity in MLS, and Erling Haaland tore through international records at historic speed.

"You know what my goal is. I want to win trophies and I want to reach that number (1,000 goals) that you all know. I will reach the number for sure, if no injuries."

Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice as Al Nassr beat struggling Al Okhdood 3-0 on Saturday to become the first team in Saudi Pro League history to win their opening 10 matches, setting a new record and extending their perfect start to the season.

After a brace on Wednesday night, Kylian Mbappe remains just two goals away from breaking Cristiano Ronaldo’s calendar-year scoring record for Real Madrid.

Lionel Messi arrived in Kolkata in the early hours of Saturday for a three-day tour, and the excitement surrounding the Argentina legend’s arrival led some fans to take extraordinary measures, including booking rooms at his hotel in the hope of catching a glimpse of the Argentine superstar, according to Indian media reports.