Cristiano Ronaldo has made a familiar entrance ahead of what could be his final World Cup campaign, arriving for Portugal’s build-up with all eyes once again on him.
The 41-year-old was filmed stepping off an aircraft wearing sunglasses as Portugal continued their preparations for their Group K opener against DR Congo.
The footage quickly went viral, though there is one detail worth treating with caution. It is not publicly confirmed that the aircraft was Ronaldo’s private jet, and there is no matching flight record for the Ronaldo-linked LX-GOL.
Cristiano Ronaldo lands before Portugal World Cup opener
Portugal are based in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, training at Gardens North County District Park in the lead-up to their first match at the World Cup. Reports had Portugal arriving on June 12, with social media clips of Ronaldo emerging on June 13.
Portugal begin their campaign against DR Congo at NRG Stadium in Houston on June 17, followed by a fixture against Uzbekistan, also in Houston, on June 23. They wrap up the group stage against Colombia in Miami on June 27.
Fan reactions to Cristiano Ronaldo’s arrival
Fans were quick to react, with one posting: “The GOAT is here…let’s take the trophy home.”
Another highlighted the occasion, writing: “6 World Cups. 41 years old, the ultimate last dance begins.”
There was even some light-hearted banter about Portugal’s opener, with one reply saying: “Bro is gunna score 1 against DR Congo and bust out the SIU.”
Not everyone was convinced, though. One critic posted: “Ronaldo will be the reason Portugal won’t win this World Cup.”
Another fan kept it simple: “The GOAT has landed.”
Cristiano Ronaldo leads golden Portugal generation
Ronaldo comes into the tournament off the back of another strong season with Al Nassr, having scored 28 goals and provided two assists in the 2025-26 Saudi Pro League, according to ESPN.
He remains Portugal’s all-time leading scorer and is still the headline name in a squad packed with quality, featuring the likes of Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva, Vitinha, Rafael Leão, Nuno Mendes, Rúben Dias and João Neves.
That strength is reflected in the odds. Portugal are shorter than Argentina in some markets. ESPN have them at +800 to win, with Argentina at 10-1. However, projection models like Opta’s give Argentina a 10.4 percent chance, compared to Portugal’s seven percent.
For Ronaldo, the mission is clear. Messi has already lifted the World Cup; this campaign could be his final opportunity to do the same.
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