Cristiano Ronaldo, who will turn 41 next year, has confirmed that the 2026 World Cup will be the last of his career — marking his record sixth appearance at football’s biggest tournament.
Speaking from Portugal’s national team camp during a video call at the ongoing tourism conference in Saudi Arabia with CNN presenter Becky Anderson, Ronaldo said, “Of course, it will be my last World Cup. By then, I will be 41.”
In recent interviews, Ronaldo has suggested he will retire “soon,” and this time he made his timeline clearer, adding, “By ‘soon,’ I mean within a year or two.”
Portugal need just two points from their final two World Cup qualifying matches against Ireland and Armenia in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Ronaldo is expected to help secure those points, keeping Portugal on track for the tournament.
He has already scored five goals in four qualifying matches, bringing his total for the national team to 143 — a world record in men’s football.
Despite speaking of retirement, Ronaldo stressed that he is still enjoying the game. “I feel great at the moment. I’m still scoring, I feel fast and sharp, and I really enjoy playing for the national team,” he said.
Reflecting on the end of his career, Ronaldo added: “To be honest, when I say ‘soon,’ I mean within one or two years. I’ve given everything to football. I’ve been playing for 25 years, and I’ve achieved a lot. I have many records, and they make me proud. Now, I just want to enjoy this time.”
Both Ronaldo and his long-time rival Lionel Messi will feature at their record sixth World Cups, adding another chapter to one of football’s greatest sporting rivalries.