Portugal finalises squad for World Cup, Ronaldo too good to be left out | TheStarTV.com

Sport

Portugal finalises squad for World Cup, Ronaldo too good to be left out

Published on 15 May 2026 9:00:31 PM

Cristiano Ronaldo may be 41 and surrounded by enough public debate to occupy taxi drivers the world over, but Portugal football coach Roberto Martinez says his captain will go to his sixth World Cup in June, an astonishing prospect even for a player who has bent football's record books into unusual shapes.

WATCH MORE: https://thestartv.com/c/news
SUBSCRIBE: https://cutt.ly/TheStar
LIKE: https://fb.com/TheStarOnline

Keywords
news, thestartv, the star, cristiano ronaldo, naming of squad, football, soccer, fifa world cup, roberto martinez, portugal, history, record, age, usa, america, canada, mexico

Cristiano Ronaldo may be 41 and surrounded by enough public debate to occupy taxi drivers the world over, but Portugal football coach Roberto Martinez says his captain will go to his sixth World Cup in June, an astonishing prospect even for a player who has bent football's record books into unusual shapes.

WATCH MORE: https://thestartv.com/c/news
SUBSCRIBE: https://cutt.ly/TheStar
LIKE: https://fb.com/TheStarOnline

Keywords:
news, thestartv, the star, cristiano ronaldo, naming of squad, football, soccer, fifa world cup, roberto martinez, portugal, history, record, age, usa, america, canada, mexico

Up next

Autoplay

FIFA World Cup final lap: The perfect pitch

Star 55: Liek Hou: Happy birthday

Malaysia fall to China in quarters, Thomas Cup wait goes on

Malaysia fall to China in Uber Cup quarter-finals

Aaron and Co miss top spot after Japan defeat

FIFA on Iran's World Cup participation: We won't leave anyone behind

Two-time Olympic badminton champ Axelsen retires

Last six spots sealed, now all 48 teams in World Cup complete

Four-time champion Italy's World Cup exile continues after Bosnia shootout defeat

Golf-Tiger Woods arrested on DUI charge after Florida car crash

Iranian female footballers safe in Malaysia, can't return home immediately - AFC

Star 55: Pandelela: Happy birthday

Iran's Sports Minister rules out participation at World Cup in US

So close again for Aaron-Wooi Yik in third All England final

Se-young now leads Yufei 15-14

Dream run ends for Pearly-Thinaah in All England semis

CAS soften blow for seven sanctioned players, but FAM to pay up RM1.8mil

Lee Chong Wei Cup: Wholesome tournament

Finally, a tournament after legend's name - Lee Chong Wei Cup

Fans on Winter Games closing: We love Verona, we love the Olympics

Eileen Gu retains halfpipe title for record sixth Olympic medal

Su Yiming to carry China's flag at closing ceremony

Level up as Aruwin finishes 44th in women’s slalom

Aruwin misses the mark in giant slalom in Milan

China Daily | Eileen Gu opens up about her journey of having overcome online hate

After 'craziest' slopestyle final, Gremaud-Eileen Gu rivalry now shifts to big air

Vonn has surgery on broken leg after horror crash in Cortina downhill

All eyes on Aruwin as Malaysia's solo entry at Olympic Winter Games

Guardiola vows to keep speaking out on global conflicts

FAM: Disagreements on resignation not relevant anymore

CAS verdict on FAM appeal expected late February

FAM exco members resign en masse

AFC to assist FAM in management and administration changes

Triple delight for Malaysia at Indonesian Masters

Pearly-Thinaah face Arisa-Miyu in Indonesia Masters final, two other pairs also in finals

Cops identify two suspects in FAM document forgery scandal

Silva sees gold ahead

Tower runner Wai Ching sets new Malaysia record

Malaysia Open: Shi cites back injury as reason for retiring in the final

Aaron-Wooi Yik denied Malaysia Open title by world No. 1 Kim-Seo

Cry out loud now if you want as more competitions follow, Chong Wei advises Pearly-Thinaah

Kunlavut after Malaysia Open win: Chong Wei's advice important

Chong Wei confirms Seu Bock as singles head coach, salary hike proposal for coaches

Malaysia Open: Feng-Huang happy to come out tops in all-Chinese final

Malaysia Open: Liu-Tan nail their second title in three years

Se-young defends Malaysia Open title in style

World champs still have work to do to keep scaling greater heights

Malaysia Open: High profile Shi-Antonsen duel fizzles out

Aaron-Wooi Yik reach Malaysia Open final after thrilling semi-final win

Seo-Kim to focus on process rather results like last year

Still too strong as Korean world No. 1 deny Wei Chong-Kai Wun again

Aaron-Wooi Yik stand tall as Malaysia's last pair in home Open

Malaysia Open: Home hopes gone as Tang Jie-Ee Wei bow out in quarters

Win or lose in semis, Axiata Arena still my home ground, declares Antonsen

Se-young on her new attacking mindset: I train with the boys

Malaysia Open: Tee-Man beat Japanese pair to breeze into quarters

Double delight as Aaron-Wooi Yik, Wei Chong-Kai Wun advance to quarters

Tale of super fans in Malaysia Open: Sabahans make their presence felt

Jonatan knocks out Jun Hao to end home men's singles challenge

Pearly-Thinaah's home charge cut short after losing to Indonesians

Se-young not intimidated by ex-world champ Okuhara, advances to quarters

Lane-Vendy end Sze Fei-Izzuddin’s Malaysia Open run

Malaysia Open: Shevon continues to be troubled by food poisoning, falters in second round

Malaysia Open: Tang Jie-Ee Wei march into quarter-finals

Thinaah greeted with belated birthday wishes, advance to second round with Pearly

Malaysia Open: Seu Bock effect lifts Jun Hao out of first-round rut

Malaysia Open: Smooth start for Aaron-Wooi Yik

Malaysia Open: Academies' players study matches of top players

100Plus boost energises Pearly-Thinaah's drive to topple China pair

Jun Hao blocks out coaching switch and swap noise to stay on track

Locals not good enough? Koo disappointed after missing out on BAM role

Ex-world No. 1 Kien Keat doubles motivation of pairs at Malaysian Open

World champs Tang Jie-Ee Wei are treading with caution in Malaysian Open

Zii Jia grateful to avoid back surgery, ready to make comeback at Malaysian Open

From world number 8 to 144: Ranking concerns push Zii Jia back to action at Malaysian Open

Boxer Anthony Joshua stable after deadly car crash in Nigeria

Cops begin probe into alleged falsified heritage player documents

An Se-young wins World Tour Finals to equal calendar year title record

Sepak takraw regu sign off SEA Games with Malaysia's 57th gold

Tang Jie-Ee Wei fail to better last year's World Tour Finals result

Pearly-Thinaah’s World Tour Finals run ends in semis finish

Veteran archer Juwaidi sees a silver lining

Pearly-Thinaah, Tang Jie-Ee Wei lose last group matches but through to semis

Teen sensation Miki lands gold on SEA Games debut

SEA Games: Netball team beat arch rivals Singapore for gold

FIFA fines Malaysia again, overturns three international match results

SEA Games: Joe Ee and Co sparkle with rhythmic gymnastics team gold

M’sia sepak takraw team beat hosts Thailand to regain glory after 34 years

Pearly-Thinaah smash Malaysia's first SEA Games badminton gold

Lionel Messi India tour turns ugly in Kolkata; fans vandalise stadium after Messi's abrupt exit

Pearly-Thinaah battles into SEA Games final

Sports Minister orders probe into athlete Danish Irfan’s SEA Games withdrawal

Thailand SEA Games: Amazing Grace leads Malaysia’s medal surge

Youth and Sports Ministry allocates RM100mil for three sports funds in 2026

Rachel swings to gold again as M'sia enjoy fruitful day in artistic gymnastics

Indonesia's second stringers crush Malaysia's gold dream in badminton team final

Tough draws for World Cup debutants

Malaysia to host 2027 SEA Games across four states in September

Malaysia sets 200-medal target for Thailand SEA Games

Sending a large contingent to SEA Games is not for short-term success, says Hannah

Zafrul remains fully committed to Malaysian badminton

FAM heritage players scandal: FIFA appeal committee upholds sanctions

Malaysia sending record 1,688-strong contingent to 2025 SEA Games

FAM scandal: 'Let the truth prevail', says Pahang Sultan

FAM accepts FIFA's decision on appeal, says acting president

World's oldest living gold medallist Charles Coste dies at 101

Naples sends Maradona's statue on citywide tour for his 65th birthday

Iskandar intends to arm women's singles shuttlers with 'dangerous weapons'

New mixed pairings can help identify strong future combos

Tang Jie-Ee Wei to miss Kumamoto Masters and Australian Open if shoulder injury persists

Oct 30 D-day as FAM’s lawyer Vittoz leads defence in heritage players saga

Harimau Malaya CEO steps out to clarify boundaries between national team and FAM

FAM sec-gen Noor Azman suspended amid FIFA sanction

Arif Aiman misses out on AFC Player of the Year but makes history for Malaysia

Liek Hou glad he stood up to fight for para athletes' rights

Hannah praises 99 Speedmart’s swift support for Paralympians Liek Hou and Co

PSG's Dembele, Barca's Bonmati win Ballon d'Or awards in Paris

Special Olympics badminton: Celebration of inclusivity and love for the game

Aaron-Wooi Yik's run ends in China Masters semi-finals

Tang Jie-Ee Wei upset Chinese giants to smash into China Masters final

Hannah backs Liek Hou, calls out PCM's treatment of Paralympic champ

Jia Rong and Shin Peng the new darlings of Malaysia's wushu

Tears of joy for Cheong Min to reclaim world title after six-year wait

RM480,000 windfall for wushu, golden rewards for shuttlers too

World champs Tang Jie-Ee Wei grateful for rewards but vow to stay grounded

Pickleball takes court

Shuttlers receive heroes’ welcome after World Championships success

World champs and silver medalists flying home

All Malaysians are world champions, say Ee Wei-Tang Jie

No double glory but Pearly-Thinaah win hearts in final against world No. 1

Classy Chen-Toh power to nation's first mixed doubles world title in style

From breakup to breakthrough: Tang Jie-Ee Wei in World Final

From tears to triumph: Pearly-Thinaah enter world final

Pearly-Thinaah become Malaysia's first-ever women's doubles medal winner at worlds

Chen-Toh secure bronze for M'sia but Hoo-Cheng falter in quarters

Football fan once again begins epic cycling journey to 2026 World Cup

Son Heung-min debuts in MLS, helps LA salvage 2-2 draw

Jun Hao excited to make the best out of his first world meet

Yap-Arif promise nothing less than 100% effort in world meet

Nova wants Chen-Toh to show character in world championships

Badminton superstar An Se-young's story: Meteoric rise in school

Soccer-Spurs captain Son says he is leaving the club

England’s resilience shines through in Euro victory over Spain

Final loss in China fuels Aaron-Wooi Yik's fire to be world champs again

Pearly-Thinaah lose to home pair in China Open semis

Bonmatí’s late strike sends Spain to first-ever Women’s Euro final

Super subs send England to Women’s Euro 2025 final

Pearly-Thinaah and Izzuddin-Goh runners-up in Japan Open finals

Pearly Tan and M. Thinaah reach Japan Open final