Cristiano Ronaldo is 41 years old and still getting picked for World Cup squads. Portugal head coach Roberto Martinez named the veteran forward in his 27-man roster for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, praising him as a unique player who continues to set a good example for teammates and aspiring footballers alike.

If Ronaldo takes the pitch in the US, Canada, or Mexico this summer, it would mark his sixth World Cup appearance.

Martinez keeps the focus on football, not farewells

Martinez has been deliberate in framing Ronaldo’s inclusion as merit-based rather than sentimental. The coach has emphasized that upcoming friendly matches ahead of the tournament should not be treated as a goodbye tour for the Portuguese icon.

Martinez’s praise centers on two qualities: Ronaldo’s continued ability to perform at the highest level and his role as a leadership figure within the squad.

Ronaldo’s parallel life in crypto and NFTs

Ronaldo launched official NFT collections through a partnership with Binance, the world’s largest crypto exchange. The “CR7 ForeverZone” collection lives on the Binance NFT Marketplace, offering digital collectibles tied to various moments and imagery from Ronaldo’s career.

Multiple fan-created meme tokens referencing Ronaldo trade on both Ethereum and Solana blockchains. These tokens carry Ronaldo branding but lack any official endorsement from the player himself. They trade at low values.

What this means for investors

Fan tokens trading at negligible values on Ethereum and Solana lack the liquidity depth needed for any meaningful investment thesis. The absence of official endorsement means these tokens carry zero structural support.

The broader athlete NFT market has cooled significantly from its 2021-2022 highs. Trading volumes across most sports-related NFT collections have declined, and the sector has struggled to maintain mainstream interest.