Ronaldo confirms 2026 World Cup will be his last, while hinting he could still play on

Cristiano Ronaldo (Al-Nassr/Portugal)
November 2025

At a Riyadh forum, Cristiano Ronaldo said the 2026 World Cup will “for sure” be his last, citing age and satisfaction with his career, while joking he could keep going. The 40-year-old is set for a record sixth World Cup appearance next summer. Ronaldo remains prolific for Al-Nassr and continues to lead Portugal in qualifying, targeting more milestones as he chases 1,000 career goals. His announcement clarifies timelines for national-team succession planning and sets up tributes during Portugal’s run-in to the tournament.