Portuguese football legend Cristiano Ronaldo has confirmed that next summer’s FIFA World Cup will be his final appearance on the international stage, marking the end of an era for one of football’s greatest ever players.
The 40-year-old superstar, who has five Ballon d’Or awards and nearly two decades at the top of world football, revealed that he plans to retire from the sport entirely within the next one or two years.
Speaking at the World Tourism Summit, Ronaldo admitted that while he still feels sharp and competitive, time is catching up with him.
I’m really enjoying the moment right now. I still score goals, I still feel quick and sharp both for Al Nassr and for Portugal, he said. But to be honest, when I say soon, it probably means one or two years more in the game.
Portugal will seal qualification for the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Mexico, and Canada if they defeat the Republic of Ireland on Thursday ; a result that would make the tournament Ronaldo’s record sixth appearance at a World Cup finals.
When asked directly if this would be his last major international competition, Ronaldo was clear:
Definitely, yes.
The Al Nassr captain, who currently sits on 953 career goals, has previously expressed his dream of reaching 1,000 goals before retiring.
Ronaldo’s comments also cast doubt on any hopes of him featuring at the 2028 European Championships, set to be hosted across the UK and Ireland.
