Three Football Stars Set to Play Sixth World Cup
Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Guillermo Ochoa are set to join the list of players preparing for a record sixth FIFA World Cup appearance in 2026.
As the 2026 FIFA World Cup approaches, discussion around Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo has again become central to world football. While some players will be making their World Cup debut, the tournament could be the final World Cup for several established stars. This edition is also set to create new records, with Argentina’s Lionel Messi, Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo and Mexico’s goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa preparing to play in the World Cup for the sixth time.
Ochoa is set to become the first Mexican player to feature in six World Cup squads after being named in the final list, with first-choice goalkeeper Luis Malagon ruled out through injury. He has been part of Mexico’s World Cup squads in 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022 and 2026, though he started in only three editions and has played 11 World Cup matches. Ronaldo, who debuted at the 2006 World Cup in Germany, has scored eight goals in 22 World Cup matches across five editions. Messi, who lifted the World Cup in the previous edition, has played 26 World Cup matches, scoring 13 goals and providing eight assists, while spending 2,314 minutes on the field across five World Cups.