Portuguese football icon Cristiano Ronaldo has confirmed that next year’s World Cup will be his last, signaling the final chapter of an extraordinary career.
The 40-year-old forward, who has scored over 950 goals across club and international competitions, also revealed he plans to retire from professional football within the next “one or two years.”
“Definitely, yes,” Ronaldo said via video link at a Saudi forum when asked if the 2026 World Cup would be his farewell. “I’m going to be 41 years old, and I think it will be the right moment.”
Ronaldo, who joined Saudi Arabia’s Al Nassr in 2023, elaborated on previous comments about retiring “soon,” explaining that he still expects to play for another year or two. “When I say soon, I mean probably one or two more years in the game,” he said.
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner is aiming for his sixth World Cup appearance. His closest chance at lifting the trophy came in 2006, when Portugal fell to France in the semi-finals.
Portugal still needs to secure qualification for the 2026 tournament in the USA, Canada, and Mexico, with a decisive match against Ireland scheduled for Thursday.
Ronaldo’s move to Al Nassr in late 2022, after leaving Manchester United for a second time, marked a wave of late-career stars joining the Saudi league. The country, which is investing heavily in sports and entertainment as part of its economic diversification plan, was also announced last December as the host of the 2034 World Cup.
