The Portuguese football icon, Cristiano Ronaldo, announced on Tuesday, November 11, that the upcoming World Cup in 2026 will mark the end of his international journey as he gradually concludes what stands as one of the most legendary careers in the sport’s history.
This 40-year-old striker, boasting over 950 goals across both club and national team matches, further revealed that his full departure from professional football is expected within “one or two years”.
“Definitely, yes,” he told a Saudi forum by video link, when asked if 2026 would be his World Cup swansong. “I’m gonna be 41 years old and I think it will be the moment.”
Ronaldo, who launched a highly profitable chapter with Saudi Arabia’s Al Nassr back in 2023, also provided more details regarding his remarks from the previous week, during which he had indicated that his retirement would arrive “soon”.
“Let’s be honest, when I mean soon, it’s probably one or two years I’ll still be at the game,” he said.
The recipient of five Ballon d’Or awards is now aiming to compete in a sixth World Cup edition next year. His nearest brush with claiming the prestigious title occurred back in 2006, at a time when Portugal fell to France during the semi-final stage.
Portugal has not yet earned qualification for the 2026 competition set to unfold across the USA, Canada, and Mexico, though they hold the opportunity to clinch their place by defeating Ireland this coming Thursday.
Ronaldo made the switch to Al Nassr following his second exit from Manchester United toward the end of 2022, an action that signaled the arrival of numerous veteran players to the wealthy Gulf nation. Saudi Arabia, actively investing heavily in athletic pursuits and leisure activities to advance its strategy for broadening its economy beyond oil, received the designation as the venue for the 2034 World Cup back in December of the prior year.
A Gentle Reminder: Every obstacle is a stepping stone, every morning; a chance to go again, and those little steps take you closer to your dream.
Nnamdi Okoli
