Portugal star Cristiano Ronaldo has officially announced that the 2026 FIFA World Cup will be his final appearance on football’s biggest stage, marking the end of an extraordinary international career spanning more than two decades.
The 40-year-old striker, who has netted 953 career goals for both club and country, revealed in an interview with CNN that he plans to retire from professional football “in one or two years.”
“Definitely, yes. I will be 41 years old and I think [this] will be the moment in the big competition,” Ronaldo said when asked whether the 2026 tournament would be his last.
Set to take place across Canada, Mexico, and the United States, the 2026 World Cup will be Ronaldo’s sixth appearance in the competition — a record feat for one of the greatest players in football history.
Currently playing for Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia, Ronaldo remains the all-time leading men’s international goalscorer with 143 goals for Portugal. Despite being in the twilight of his career, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner continues to chase an unprecedented 1,000 career goals milestone.
Ronaldo previously hinted at retirement last week, saying he would step away “soon,” but this latest statement confirms his timeline is now set.
“Let’s be honest, when I mean soon, it’s probably one or two years I’ll still be at the game,” he explained.
As the football world prepares to bid farewell to one of its most iconic figures, Ronaldo’s announcement marks the beginning of the countdown to what promises to be a historic and emotional final World Cup.
