Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo runs drills in the course of the men’s national soccer team training session ahead of their FIFA World Cup soccer tournament Saturday, June 13, 2026, in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
Cristiano Ronaldo, your turn.
The 41-year-old is ready to enter the World Cup on Wednesday when Portugal meets Congo after impressive performances by the tournament’s other top stars.
France’s Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland of Norway each had two goals as they opened their World Cup campaigns on Tuesday, while Lionel Messi scored a hat trick for Argentina. That gave Messi 16 profession goals within the World Cup, tying him with Germany’s Miroslav Klose for the all-time record.
READ: Cristiano Ronaldo wants to achieve 1,000 goals before retiring
Ronaldo can be trying to make history by becoming the primary player to attain in six World Cups. Messi, too, is playing in his sixth World Cup but failed to seek out the web in 2010.
“Well, I wish him the very best — I hope that he scores but not against us,” Congo coach Sébastien Desabre said of the Portugal forward.
Ronaldo’s focus has been on his team’s success.
“We go match by match, but not with the expectations of winning all of it,” Ronaldo told reporters in Portugal last week before the team’s departure. “It must be step-by-step. A very good start is an important thing,”
Some Portugal supporters query whether the aging star can be a help or a detriment to the team.
READ: Messi has his first World Cup hat trick as Argentina routs Algeria
After scoring only once within the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, Ronaldo was upset after he subbed off against South Korea and benched for the club’s first knockout-stage match against Switzerland. He also did not rating within the 2024 European Championship — the primary time that has happened at a significant international tournament.
But Ronaldo has also shown signs of his old productivity.
He scored eight goals during Portugal’s 2025 UEFA Nations League title, including an equalizer in the ultimate against Spain. And, he recently won his first Saudi Pro League title with Al-Nassr, scoring a club-high 28 goals.
Kane, England seek strong World Cup start vs Croatia
Harry Kane, one among the world’s dominant goal scorers, leads England into its first match against Croatia with the Three Lions looking for their first World Cup title since 1966, once they won on home soil.
Kane has been a force over the past 12 months with 61 goals in 51 matches for Bayern Munich across all competitions. The 32-year-old striker has eight goals in two previous World Cups and won the Golden Boot in 2018 by scoring six times in Russia.
READ: World Cup: Kylian Mbappe leads France to 3-1 win over Senegal
But he didn’t rating in England’s semifinal loss to Croatia in 2018. In 2022, he missed a penalty late against France in a 2-1 semifinal loss in Qatar when he sent the ball over the crossbar.
Kane’s eight World Cup goals are two shy of Gary Lineker’s England record.
Ghana to be without Partey for opener after appeal denied
Ghana will play its opening match against Panama without midfielder Thomas Partey after a Canadian judge on Tuesday rejected a bid to permit him into the country as he awaits trial on rape charges.
Partey’s visa application was denied last week.
He’ll remain in america while his teammates play in Toronto on Wednesday. He can be eligible to play in Ghana’s next two matches — each within the U.S.
READ: Injured Neymar’s World Cup doubts proceed for Brazil
Ghana’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs had criticized the visa denial, calling it a “high-handed and intensely unfair decision.” Its appeal was heard by the court earlier Tuesday.
Partay is awaiting trial in Britain while facing allegations from several women dating to his time playing for Arsenal from 2020-25. He has pleaded not guilty.
England’s Livramento will miss tournament with injury
England fullback Tino Livramento was ruled out of the World Cup on Tuesday due to a calf injury, forcing coach Thomas Tuchel right into a late squad change ahead of his team’s opener against Croatia.
Chelsea defender Trevoh Chalobah was called up as a substitute and as a result of head to the England training camp in Kansas City. Livramento was injured during training on Sunday.
READ: Cristiano Ronaldo ends long wait for Saudi title
“A subsequent scan and medical assessment on Monday unfortunately confirmed he could play no further part in England’s tournament,” it said in a press release.
Uzbekistan able to make World Cup debut
Uzbekistan will mark the largest moment within the country’s soccer history on Wednesday when it participates in its first World Cup, facing Colombia.
Coached by Fabio Cannavaro, Italy’s 2006 World Cup-winning captain and a former Ballon d’Or winner, Uzbekistan finished second in Asian qualifying to earn its way into the expanded 48-team field.
Colombia is back within the World Cup after failing to qualify in 2022.
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Stats of the day
England has struggled against European opposition at the worldwide showcase, losing six of its last eight matches. Its overall record versus UEFA teams on the World Cup includes 14 wins, 12 losses and 13 ties.