Riyadh, Saudi Arabia — November 11, 2025
Cristiano Ronaldo has declared that the 2026 FIFA World Cup will be his last, bringing the curtain down on one of football’s most storied international careers.
The 40-year-old Al Nassr striker made the announcement via video link at a Saudi investment forum on Tuesday, confirming speculation that had intensified since his cryptic “soon” retirement remark last week.
“Definitely, yes,” Ronaldo said when asked if the 2026 tournament—co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico—would mark his final World Cup appearance. “I’m gonna be 41 years old and I think it will be the moment.”
He further clarified his timeline for hanging up his boots: “Let’s be honest, when I mean soon, it’s probably one or two years I’ll still be at the game.”
With over 950 career goals and a record 133 for Portugal, Ronaldo is chasing a sixth World Cup appearance and a first-ever title. His closest brush with glory came in 2006, when a youthful Portugal side fell 1–0 to France in the semifinals.
Portugal are on the cusp of qualification for 2026. A win or draw against Ireland in Lisbon on Thursday will seal their place, with Ronaldo expected to lead the line.
Since joining Al Nassr in January 2023 on a deal reportedly worth over €200 million annually, Ronaldo has been central to Saudi Arabia’s football revolution. His arrival sparked a wave of high-profile signings—Neymar, Karim Benzema, and Sadio Mané among them—as the kingdom leverages sport to diversify its economy under Vision 2030.
That ambition reached a global pinnacle last December when Saudi Arabia was confirmed as the sole bidder and subsequent host of the 2034 World Cup.
Ronaldo, who won the Ballon d’Or five times between 2008 and 2017, remains prolific in the Saudi Pro League. He scored his latest goal—a penalty in Al Nassr’s 3–1 win over Al Orobah on November 1—taking his tally to 909 official career strikes.
As the countdown to 2026 begins, the football world braces for the final chapter of a career defined by records, resilience, and relentless ambition.
