Cristiano Ronaldo Confirms 2026 World Cup Will Be His Last: “I’ll Be 41 — It’s Time”

Football legend Cristiano Ronaldo has confirmed that the 2026 FIFA World Cup will “definitely” be his last, marking the approaching end of one of the most iconic careers in football history.

Speaking via video link at a Saudi business forum on Tuesday, the 40-year-old Portuguese forward said he plans to hang up his boots within the next “one or two years.”

“Definitely, yes,” Ronaldo replied when asked if the 2026 World Cup would be his final appearance on football’s biggest stage. “I’m gonna be 41 years old, and I think it will be the moment.”

The five-time Ballon d’Or winner, who has scored more than 950 career goals across club and international football, is currently playing for Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia’s top league — a move that has made him one of the highest-paid athletes in history.

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Ronaldo hints at retirement timeline

Ronaldo elaborated on his recent comments about retiring “soon,” clarifying that he expects to play for another year or two before calling time on his professional career.

“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 veteran forward is aiming to compete in his sixth World Cup, which would extend his record as one of the few players to feature in the tournament across two decades. He came closest to lifting the trophy in 2006, when Portugal lost to France in the semifinals.

Portugal have not yet qualified for the 2026 World Cup, to be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, but could secure their spot with a win over Ireland this Thursday.

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A record-breaking career

Ronaldo recently became the top goalscorer in World Cup qualifying history, netting twice against Hungary to reach 41 goals, surpassing Guatemalan striker Carlos Ruiz’s long-standing record of 39.

He also remains football’s all-time leading international goalscorer, with 143 goals for Portugal — a record unlikely to be broken anytime soon.

During a recent interview with Piers Morgan Uncensored, Ronaldo opened up about the emotional toll of retirement, saying:

“It will be difficult? Yes. Probably will cry, yes. I’m an open person. It will be very, very difficult, yes.”

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A billion-dollar legacy

Since joining Al Nassr in 2023, Ronaldo has helped transform Saudi Arabia’s football landscape, paving the way for a wave of international stars to move to the Middle East.

He initially signed a €200 million-a-year contract, which was later extended in June 2025. Last month, Bloomberg named him the sport’s first billionaire footballer, while Forbes reported that he remains the highest-paid footballer in the world with $280 million in combined earnings — more than double that of Lionel Messi.

As Saudi Arabia prepares to host the 2034 FIFA World Cup, Ronaldo’s presence continues to symbolize the kingdom’s growing investment in global sports and entertainment.