Portugal’s football icon Cristiano Ronaldo has confirmed that the 2026 FIFA World Cup will be his final appearance on the global stage, revealing plans to retire from professional football within the next two years.
Speaking at the Tourism Summit in Riyadh, the 40-year-old forward said the tournament—set to be hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the United States—would be his last major competition.
“Definitely, yes,” Ronaldo said when asked if the 2026 World Cup would mark his farewell. “I will be 41 years old, and I think this will be the moment in the big competition.”
Currently playing for Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia, Ronaldo remains the world’s all-time leading men’s international goalscorer with 143 goals for Portugal. Across club and country, he has scored 953 career goals and continues to pursue his ambition of reaching the 1,000-goal milestone before retirement.
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner, who has enjoyed a glittering career at Manchester United, Real Madrid, and Juventus, acknowledged that the end of his playing days is near. “Let’s be honest, when I mean soon, it’s probably one or two years I’ll still be at the game,” he said.
Ronaldo, who captained Portugal to their first-ever major trophy at Euro 2016, has won almost every major honour in football—except the World Cup. His announcement marks the beginning of a farewell chapter for one of the sport’s most decorated and influential players.
