Cristiano Ronaldo is wearing a special World Cup patch that is only given to a select group of players during the Portugal vs. DR Congo match.
Cristiano Ronaldo has joined Lionel Messi and a few other special players by wearing a unique World Cup patch that celebrates an amazing achievement.
Early Wednesday morning, football star Messi gave Argentina a great start to defending their World Cup title by scoring a hat trick in their first game of the 2026 tournament. At 38 years old, Messi’s first World Cup hat trick helped him match Miroslav Klose’s record as the top scorer in World Cup history. He also became the oldest player to score a hat trick in a World Cup match, beating Ronaldo’s previous record set in 2018 when he was 33.
All eyes then turned to Houston Stadium, where Ronaldo aimed to take back that record during Portugal’s first game against the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Fans watching closely might notice Ronaldo wearing a slightly different jersey than his teammates. That’s because he’s been honored with a special FIFA World Cup Legacy patch, worn by only five players before him.
This special patch is given to players appearing in their fifth or more World Cups—a truly rare achievement. Ronaldo is one of just five players at the 2026 World Cup wearing the patch, as this will be his sixth tournament (2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022, 2026).
Messi also wore the patch for Argentina’s opener against Algeria, sharing this milestone with his rival. Japan’s veteran defender Yūto Nagatomo and Germany’s captain Manuel Neuer wore the patch in their teams’ opening games too. Luka Modric will join them when he competes in his fifth World Cup as Croatia takes on England in Dallas.
Throughout World Cup history, only eight players have appeared in at least five tournaments, and Modric is set to become the ninth in the upcoming match. However, the special legacy patch is new this year and only players at the 2026 World Cup will get to wear it.
Some players, like Mexico’s Guillermo Ochoa, have been named in five World Cup squads but haven’t played in five tournaments, so they don’t get the patch. This special honor truly highlights the incredible careers of these football legends.