Copy linkFacebookXPinterestEmailShare this article 0Join the conversationFollow usAdd us as a preferred source on GoogleNewsletterSubscribe to our newsletterIn 2022, Lionel Messi was the beneficiary of the ultimate World Cup fairytale in what appeared to be the ending of his international career.Now, Cristiano Ronaldo has the opportunity to match his greatest rival, as he has tried to do his entire career, but there are question marks surrounding his starter status for Portugal.The World Cup has not been the Portuguese maestro's playground, in an otherwise near spotless career, but new data has given Portugal an easy decision regarding his playing time this tournament.Play our free match predictor and win �1kCristiano Ronaldo's starter status is now an easy decision for Portugal at the World Cup, new data showsFamously, Ronaldo has never scored in the World Cup knock-outs, despite being often touted as the man for the big occasion.The Portuguese maestro's career has been largely stain-free, with a UEFA European Championship victory and Champions League 'three-peat' under his belt over the years. You may like The numbers make the argument for Cristiano Ronaldo. Hes not in the squad because of what he was, but because his present form earns it every time Roberto Martinez on the Portuguese icons World Cup selection How to watch Cristiano Ronaldo at the 2026 FIFA World Cup Which records will Cristiano Ronaldo break at World Cup 2026? New data has shown how Ronaldo has been able to maintain an elite level of play this season, now 41 years old and ready to make one final impact on the biggest of international stages.WHOOP data has revealed that during the 2025/26 season, in which Ronaldo finally achieved an elusive Saudi Pro League title, the Portuguese icon did nearly everything right off the pitch.Get FourFourTwo NewsletterThe best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week.Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.While leading Al-Nassr to top-flight jubilation, the 41-year-old entered a remarkable 45 out of 46 matches in the Yellow or Green zones, according to WHOOP data.Those zones dictate how ready a player is in terms of fitness and recovery to play at an elite level during the match.Amazingly, Ronaldo achieved a rate of 98% match readiness, using saunas, ice baths, warm baths, breath work, stretching and red light to build elite performance. What to read next How many goals has Cristiano Ronaldo scored now? Portugal squad World Cup 2026: Roberto Martinez's 27-man preliminary selection Which records will Lionel Messi break at World Cup 2026? WHOOP data tracks the science behind how a player can optimise their performance through off the pitch actions.At 41, off the back of a remarkable veteran season leading his club side to domestic glory, Portugal have an easy decision to make regarding his starter status at the World Cup 2026.If the goal involvements, of which he had 34 in 37 matches, weren't enough to guarantee a place for Portugal, his consummate professionalism and dedication off the pitch surely should be.Ronaldo's Woop data in full Key data points Entered 45 of 46 matches in either the Green or Yellow recovery zones (98% match readiness) Averaged 65.6 recovery on match mornings throughout the season and recorded an 8-day Green recovery streak Maintained an average match strain of 15.0 across 46 games Sauna emerged as the strongest recovery habit, associated with a +5.7 point recovery boost, followed by Ice Bath (+4.7), Warm Bath (+4.2), Breathwork (+3.5), Stretching (+3.3) and Red Light Therapy (+2.8)Elite performance is built in the hours between training sessions, travel, recovery, and sleep. Ronaldo's data offers a rare look into how an athlete sustains world-class performance over decades, not just seasons.TOPICSPortugalWorld Cup 2026Kedar BayleySocial Links NavigationFreelance WriterKedar Bayley is a trained journalist specialising in culture reporting. As a fan of Liverpool FC,he writes on the Reds often. Knowledgable about all things sports, cinema and television,you can find his words in Screen International, FourFourTwo, Manchester Evening News and more.
