Incredible but true! Ronaldo sets bizarre anti-record at World Cups
Raphael Durand
Dailysports's expert
Cristiano Ronaldo has found himself at the center of an unexpected anti-record at the 2026 World Cup - the forward fired off 17 shots without creating a single chance for his Portugal teammates.
Details: Since 1966, this is the highest number of shots taken at a single World Cup without generating even one chance for a fellow national team player.
Ronaldo now tops the list with his 17 shots. Previously, the unwanted record belonged to Alberto García Aspe, who took 15 shots at the 1998 World Cup without creating a single opportunity for a teammate.
The ranking also features Jerzy Gorgoń with 13 shots at the 1974 World Cup, Katlego Mphela with 13 at the 2010 tournament, and Denis Cheryshev with 13 at Russia 2018.
This stat stands out even more after Portugal’s clash with Spain, where Ronaldo kept searching for shooting opportunities but rarely looked to set up his teammates.
Reminder: Unai Simón kept Spain’s goal safe after a shot from Cristiano Ronaldo in the 37th minute of the Portugal vs Spain match.
