Cristiano Ronaldo has officially announced that the 2026 FIFA World Cup will mark the end of his illustrious international career. The Portuguese superstar, now 40 years old, shared that he plans to retire from football entirely within the next couple of years.
Ronaldo Bids Farewell to the World Stage
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner, currently playing for Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia, confirmed his decision during an interview at the Tourism Summit in Riyadh. The 2026 tournament, hosted across Canada, Mexico, and the United States, will be his sixth and final World Cup appearance.
“Definitely, yes. I will be 41 years old and I think [this] will be the moment in the big competition,” Ronaldo said.
With 953 career goals for both club and country, Ronaldo remains the all-time leading men’s international goalscorer, boasting 143 goals for Portugal. Despite his age, he continues to perform at a high level in the Saudi Pro League.
Eyeing 1,000 Career Goals Before Retirement
Ronaldo hinted that while his playing days are nearing their end, he still has short-term ambitions before hanging up his boots.
“Let’s be honest, when I mean soon, it’s probably one or two years I’ll still be at the game,” he stated.
Having already secured the Euro 2016 title with Portugal, the World Cup remains one of the few major trophies missing from his legendary career. Under manager Roberto Martínez, Portugal can secure qualification for the 2026 World Cup with a win against the Republic of Ireland on Thursday.
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