Ronaldo says the 2026 World Cup will be his final one.
The iconic 40-year-old, who boasts an incredible 953 goals for both club and country, shared this significant update during an interview at the Tourism Summit in Riyadh. He also hinted that his full retirement from professional football is just around the corner, likely within "one or two years."
When asked directly if the 2026 tournament, co-hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the United States, would indeed be his last, Ronaldo definitively stated, "Definitely, yes." He elaborated, "I will be 41 years old, and I think this will be the moment in the big competition."
Currently dazzling fans with Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr, Ronaldo still holds the record as the world’s all-time leading men’s international goalscorer, with a staggering 143 goals for Portugal. And, in true CR7 fashion, he's still ambitiously chasing his personal milestone of reaching 1,000 career goals before hanging up his boots for good.
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner, a superstar during his stints with Manchester United, Real Madrid, and Juventus, reinforced that retirement is fast approaching. He candidly remarked, "Let’s be honest, when I mean soon, it’s probably one or two years I’ll still be at the game."
Ronaldo, famously the captain who led Portugal to their historic first major title at Euro 2016, has conquered almost every major honor in world football – with the elusive World Cup trophy being the notable exception. His recent confirmation officially kicks off what promises to be a memorable farewell chapter for one of the game's absolute greatest players.
