Ronaldo joins exclusive club as he reaches fifth World Cup hoping to land ultimate prize

They are an exclusive band, but they should soon be admitting new members. Only the Mexico goalkeeper Antonio Carbajal, his compatriot Rafael Marquez and the great German Lothar Matthaus have taken the field in five different World Cups.

When it became apparent Lionel Messi would join them, it may have fuelled Cristiano Ronaldo’s determination to emulate his old rival. In yet another respect, Ronaldo will be a history maker.

But, for once, his inspiration was indirect as he adopted the role of best supporting actor in the play-offs. He turned in a selfless display against Turkey, and created the first of Bruno Fernandes’ match-winning brace against North Macedonia on Tuesday.

“We’re at the World Cup, we’re in our rightful place,” Ronaldo wrote on Instagram. And if that seems the case, it will be part of his legacy. Come November, he will have played in 62.5 per cent of Portugal’s World Cups. Before him – or the preceding golden generation of Luis Figo and Rui Costa, anyway – there was rarely such a sense that Portugal’s rightful place was at major tournaments.

The probability that this will be Ronaldo’s final World Cup may have given the most driven of players still more purpose. So, in a way, could Manchester United’s struggles. Uncertainty abounds at Old Trafford and it remains to be seen who their next manager is, let alone if Ronaldo forms a pivotal part in his plans.

It may be harder for him to realise his ambitions at United: it is hard to envisage them winning the Premier League or Champions League next season and it is very possible they will not even be in the latter. Ronaldo’s season may be based around a winter month in Qatar.

Yet if Ronaldo might have played his final game among the European elite, he can