Ronaldo, Messi at World Cup: Who else is playing their final tournament?

The FIFA World Cup 2026 in North America is expected to serve as the final tournament for several of football's biggest stars, most notably Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. Some players at this tournament will set a men's football record by appearing in their sixth World Cup, while others have been hampered by age and injuries. Al Jazeera published an analysis on June 4, 2026 examining which high-profile players may be making their final appearance on the global stage.