Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo leads all players at the 2026 World Cup with 231 international caps, followed by Argentina's Lionel Messi (202) and Croatia's Luka Modrić (201). Qatar's Hassan Al-Haydos rounds out the top four with 191 caps. Ronaldo is one of the most experienced active players. This is according to FIFA's official squad list as of 3 July 2026, so all four totals will keep climbing as the tournament progresses.

Off the pitch, Ronaldo and Messi have also become football's first on-field billionaires, reportedly worth $1.2-billion and just over $1-billion respectively, fortunes built over decades of salary, endorsements, and business ventures rather than caps alone.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is taking place in the United States, Mexico and Canada from 11 June to 19 July 2026, the first time three countries have co-hosted the competition. It's also the largest tournament to date, with 48 teams competing, up from 32 in previous editions.