Four players who featured in the 2006 World Cup in Germany are also part of the teams competing in the 2026 World Cup. These four athletes are considered fortunate, a status earned through their relentless dedication and hard work over the years.
News Summary
- The 2026 FIFA World Cup will, for the first time, feature 48 nations with 1,248 players competing across 104 matches over 39 days.
- Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Luka Modrić, and Guillermo Ochoa are four players included in all six consecutive World Cups from 2006 to 2026.
- If Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo participate in the 2026 World Cup, they will set a historic record by playing in the tournament six times.
Kathmandu, June 6 – The final squads of 48 nations have been announced for the FIFA World Cup 2026, which kicks off on June 11. The tournament, hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada, is set to be the grandest celebration of global football.
This World Cup will see the highest number of participating teams in its history, with a total of 104 matches played over 39 days at 16 stadiums across North America.
Each of the 48 teams will field 26 players, totaling 1,248 players competing in the tournament. Among them, some have previous World Cup experience or victories, while most will be making their debut.
Notably, 22 players have already won the World Cup in their careers, and over 300 have participated in at least one previous edition.
However, within this group of 1,248 players are four who will be competing in their final World Cup, having continuously participated for two decades.
These four players debuted in the 2006 Germany World Cup and have now been selected for the 2026 tournament, exemplifying both their fortune and perseverance.
They are Lionel Messi from Argentina, Cristiano Ronaldo from Portugal, midfielder Luka Modrić from Croatia, and Mexican goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa. Each has been consistently part of their national teams from 2006 through 2026.
While Messi and Ronaldo have played in five consecutive World Cups, the upcoming 2026 edition will mark their historic sixth appearances. Modrić debuted in 2006 but missed the 2010 World Cup as Croatia failed to qualify.
Goalkeeper Ochoa was part of the squad in 2006 and 2010 but did not get game time until becoming a regular starter in the three consecutive tournaments from 2014 to 2022.
Here are some highlights of these four players’ World Cup journeys:
Lionel Messi
Argentina’s superstar Lionel Messi made his World Cup debut in 2006 and has played continuously in five editions since. At 38, Messi holds the record for most World Cup matches played, totaling 26.
Having crowned his career by winning the 2022 Qatar World Cup, Messi not only claimed the title but also earned the Golden Ball award twice as the tournament’s best player.
In 2014, he scored 4 goals in 7 matches to win the Golden Ball, and in 2022 he scored 7 goals in 7 matches. With 13 total World Cup goals, Messi is only three behind Germany’s Miroslav Klose, the all-time top scorer. If he scores four more goals in 2026, Messi will become the tournament’s all-time leading scorer.
Cristiano Ronaldo
At 41, Ronaldo is one of the oldest players competing in this World Cup. Like Messi, he made his World Cup debut in 2006 and has since participated in five editions consecutively.
Though he has not won the World Cup, Ronaldo’s Portugal reached the semifinals in 2006 but have yet to advance beyond the quarterfinals since. Ronaldo has played 22 World Cup matches and scored 8 goals.
This will be Ronaldo’s final World Cup, and fans and football enthusiasts worldwide hope he will achieve a World Cup victory.
Luka Modrić
The 40-year-old Modrić has played crucial roles in Croatia’s World Cup campaigns since 2006, except 2010 when Croatia did not qualify. He led Croatia to the 2018 World Cup final, finishing as runners-up and earning the Golden Ball award as the tournament’s best player.
At the 2022 Qatar World Cup, Croatia reached the semifinals, and Modrić received the Bronze Ball award. He will captain Croatia in 2026, marking his fifth World Cup appearance.
Guillermo Ochoa
The 40-year-old Mexican goalkeeper Ochoa was part of Mexico’s squad in the 2006 and 2010 World Cups but did not play any matches. From 2014 to 2022, he consistently featured as a key player in three consecutive tournaments.
In the 2022 Qatar World Cup, Ochoa played all three group matches and notably saved a penalty from Poland’s captain Robert Lewandowski.
Though Ochoa has been included in five World Cup squads, he has played in only three editions, accumulating 11 World Cup appearances. His longevity and consistency have been remarkable for a goalkeeper of his age.
