2006
Scores his first World Cup goal — a penalty vs Iran at 21 years old — and helps Portugal reach the semifinals, still his best-ever tournament result.
2018
Delivers a stunning hat-trick vs Spain in Russia, including a trademark free kick — one of the most iconic individual World Cup performances of his generation.
2026
At 41, becomes the first player in history to score in six different World Cups, netting a brace vs Uzbekistan — the oldest man ever to score twice in a single World Cup match.
2026
Converts a penalty vs Croatia for his first-ever World Cup knockout goal, after eight previous knockout games without one — becoming the oldest scorer in WC knockout history.
2026
Finishes his sixth and final World Cup as Portugal's all-time leading scorer in the tournament (11), passing Eusébio's long-standing record of nine.