Cristiano Ronaldo makes World Cup history with crazy record that could stand forever

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Cameron Smith | Digital Content Producer

Accredited sports journalist covering football since 2020

Cristiano Ronaldo has set a new World Cup record for the most shots taken during a single tournament without creating a chance for a team-mate.

The 41-year-old took a total of 17 shots in five matches at the 2026 tournament, scoring three goals, but he didn’t create a single chance for any of his Portugal team-mates, as confirmed by Opta.

The record was previously held by Alberto Garcia Aspe, who took 15 shots for Mexico without providing a chance back in 1998, but he has now been usurped by Ronaldo.

They are the only two players in history, since records began, to have taken 15 or more shots without creating a chance at a single World Cup tournament, and with modern football trending away from individuality, Ronaldo’s record may never be broken.

Ronaldo played 441 minutes from a possible 450 as Roberto Martinez’s side bowed out after a 1-0 defeat to Spain in the last-16 and he has confirmed that he will not play at the 2030 World Cup, meaning he will end his playing career without lifting the most prestigious trophy in football.

The Al-Nassr striker scored a brace during a 5-0 win over Uzbekistan in the group stages, while he netted his first ever World Cup knockout stage goal from the penalty spot versus Croatia in the round of 32.

However, Ronaldo is still yet to score an open-play goal in the World Cup knockouts and he looks set to miss out on ever achieving that feat.

Furthermore, after Portugal’s defeat to Spain, Ronaldo has joined Mathew Leckie, Son Heung-min, Antonio Carbajal and Hong Myung-bo on the list of players with the joint-most matches lost in World Cup history (eight).

What did Cristiano Ronaldo say after Portugal were knocked out of the World Cup?

While World Cup glory evaded him once again in 2026, Ronaldo used his post-match interview after Portugal’s loss to Spain to gloat about the success that he has brought to his country during his international career.

“I’ve won three titles with Portugal. Before Cristiano, Portugal won nothing,” he said.

“The biggest title I won with the National Team was Euro 2016... For me, Euro has the same value as a World Cup. That remains forever. Tomorrow is a new day, and we go.

“I will wake up tomorrow the same as I did today, with a clear conscience, because I gave my best for Portugal. I won three titles with Portugal, before me it was zero titles. I can only be happy.”