Ronaldinho Celebrates at FIFA World Cup 2026 Opener as Mexico Secures Historic Victory

Ronaldinho Enjoys World Cup Kickoff

The iconic Brazilian football star Ronaldinho graced the FIFA World Cup 2026 opening match between Mexico and South Africa, sharing his joy at reconnecting with fellow legends at Estadio Azteca. He expressed his excitement about being back in Mexico, stating it’s always a pleasure to visit the country.

In a post on X, the 2002 World Cup champion remarked, "This cup is going to be incredible!" He added, "What a delight to return to Mexico for the kickoff of another @FIFAWorldCup! So thrilled to see all my friends and sports legends again... The energy is surreal, and the fans are throwing a beautiful celebration! Everyone knows how much I cherish this country, and it’s always a tremendous joy to be here... Let’s go, this cup is going to be amazing! #fwc26". Q felicidade voltar ao México na abertura de mais uma @FIFAWorldCup!!!! Mt feliz em rever todos os amigos e lendas do esporte… Energia surreal e uma festa linda da torcida!!!! Tds sabem o carinho que tenho por este país e é sempre uma alegria enorme estar aq… Bora que essa copa… pic.twitter.com/Euheua0eYU — Ronaldinho (@10Ronaldinho) June 11, 2026

Mexico Achieves Record-Breaking Win

In a historic match, Mexico ended their winless streak in World Cup openers with a 2-0 victory over South Africa, marked by an intense atmosphere that included three red cards. The iconic Azteca Stadium witnessed a game filled with fouls, heated exchanges, and aggressive play, with fans cheering every Mexican touch while booing the opposition.

The match featured three red cards—two for South Africa and one for Mexico—setting a record for the most red cards issued in a World Cup opener, according to ESPN. This was the first instance since the 2006 World Cup in Germany where two red cards were shown in a match, reminiscent of the Portugal-Netherlands game two decades ago.

This victory marks Mexico's 22nd consecutive win against African teams, with their last defeat to South Africa occurring during the 2005 Gold Cup. The match also represented the 20th World Cup event held at Azteca, the most of any stadium in the tournament's history, as Mexico maintains an undefeated record there.

After a seven-match winless streak in World Cup openers (comprising five losses and two draws), this is the first time Mexico has kicked off the tournament with a full set of points.

Player Achievements Highlight Mexico's Triumph

Julian Quinones scored in the ninth minute, marking it as the second-quickest goal in World Cup history since Philipp Lahm's six-minute goal for Germany in 2006, as reported by Sky Sports.

Raul Jimenez later scored the second goal, tying him with Jared Borgetti as Mexico's second-highest goal-scorer, now just six goals behind Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez (52 goals), according to ESPN. Additionally, Gilberto Mora made his debut as a substitute in the second half, becoming the youngest player to represent Mexico in the World Cup at 17 years and 240 days, and the sixth-youngest in the tournament's history.

Mexico's next match is scheduled against South Korea on June 19.