Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo has confirmed that the 2026 World Cup will “definitely” be his last, as the legendary forward nears the end of one of football’s greatest careers.
The 40-year-old, who has scored over 950 goals for club and country, also revealed that he plans to retire from football within the next couple of years.
“Definitely, yes,” Ronaldo said via video link at a Saudi forum when asked if the 2026 World Cup would mark his final appearance on the global stage. “I’m going to be 41 years old and I think it will be the moment.”
Currently playing for Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia, Ronaldo expanded on his earlier remarks about retirement, explaining: “Let’s be honest, when I said soon, it’s probably one or two years more that I’ll still be in the game.”
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner hopes to feature in his sixth World Cup next year. His best run in the competition came in 2006, when Portugal reached the semi-finals before losing to France.
Portugal have yet to officially qualify for the 2026 tournament in the USA, Canada and Mexico, but can secure their place with a win against Ireland on Thursday.
Just last month, Ronaldo became the all-time leading goalscorer in World Cup qualifying history, surpassing Carlos Ruiz’s record of 39 with his 41st goal. He also remains international football’s top scorer with 143 goals for Portugal.
In a recent interview on Piers Morgan Uncensored, Ronaldo reflected emotionally on his approaching retirement. “Will it be difficult? Yes. Will I cry? Probably, yes. I’m an open person. It will be very, very difficult,” he admitted.
Ronaldo joined Al Nassr in late 2022 after leaving Manchester United for a second time. His arrival sparked a wave of high-profile signings in Saudi football. Initially reported to be earning €200 million a year, he extended his contract with Al Nassr in June 2025.
Last month, Bloomberg named him football’s first billionaire, while Forbes once again listed him as the highest-paid footballer — his sixth time in a decade — with estimated earnings of $280 million, more than double that of Lionel Messi.
Saudi Arabia, continuing its major investment in global sport, was confirmed last December as the host nation for the 2034 World Cup.
