Superstar footballer Cristiano Ronaldo has announced that the 2026 World Cup will mark the end of his World Cup journey and possibly the final chapter of his playing career.
Speaking via video link at a Saudi forum on Tuesday, the 40-year-old forward, who has scored over 950 goals for club and country, said he plans to retire from football in “one or two years.”
“Definitely, yes. I’m gonna be 41 years old and I think it will be the moment,” Ronaldo said when asked if next year’s tournament would be his swansong.
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner, currently playing for Saudi Arabia’s Al Nassr since 2023, also clarified comments he made last week about retiring “soon,” explaining that he expects to remain active in the game for another year or two.
Ronaldo, who narrowly missed lifting the World Cup in 2006 when Portugal lost to France in the semi-finals, is aiming for a sixth World Cup appearance in the USA, Canada, and Mexico. Portugal still need to qualify, with a decisive match against Ireland scheduled for Thursday.
After leaving Manchester United for a second time in late 2022, Ronaldo’s move to Al Nassr has sparked a trend of late-career stars joining the Saudi league, drawing global attention to the oil-rich nation’s football ambitions.