Cristiano Ronaldo Confirms 2026 World Cup Will Be His Last Before Retirement
Cristiano Ronaldo, the legendary Portuguese forward, has confirmed that the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico will be his final major tournament before retiring from professional football. In an exclusive interview on Tuesday during a Saudi-hosted global summit on tourism and investment, Ronaldo said he plans to retire within
“one or two years” to focus on spending time with his family. “I feel very good at this moment. I score goals; I still feel quick and sharp. I’m enjoying my game in the national team. But of course, let’s be honest. What I mean by soon is probably one or two years,” Ronaldo said via video call. Ronaldo, 40, extended his contract with Saudi Arabian side Al-Nassr until 2027 and is targeting next year’s World Cup, the only major trophy missing from his illustrious collection. Having scored more than 950 goals for clubs and country since debuting as a teenager at Sporting Lisbon in 2002, Ronaldo also holds the record for the most international goals in history with 143. “Definitely, yes [the 2026 World Cup will be my last], because I will be 41 years old,” he added. “I gave everything for football. I’ve been in the game for the last 25 years. I did everything. I have many records in different scenarios in clubs and also in the national teams.” Addressing the future of his son, Cristiano dos Santos Jr., who currently plays for the Portugal Under-16 team, Ronaldo expressed hope that his child will succeed on his own terms. “As human beings, we always don’t want anybody being better than us. But I wish my kids will be better than me. I’m never going to be jealous of him,” he said. “I don’t want to add pressure to that. What I want for him is to be happy. It doesn’t matter if he wants to play football or another sport. Be happy, be free.” Ronaldo’s announcement marks the approaching end of one of football’s most storied careers, as the iconic forward prepares for one final World Cup appearance before retiring.
