Ronaldo confirms retirement plans; FIFA World Cup 2026 will be his last

Football icon Cristiano Ronaldo has officially confirmed that the FIFA World Cup 2026 will be his final tournament on the international stage. The Portuguese superstar, who will be 41 years old during the competition hosted in the USA, Canada, and Mexico, revealed his decision during a video link address at a Saudi forum.

Ronaldo’s statement about the 2026 World Cup was definitive: "Definitely, yes. I’m gonna be 41 years old, and I think it will be the moment." This announcement has set the stage for what will undoubtedly be a highly emotional and significant farewell for one of the sport's all-time greatest players. The tournament will mark his record-extending sixth World Cup appearance.

In addition to confirming his international retirement date, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner provided a more concrete timeline for his overall departure from professional football. He elaborated on earlier cryptic remarks about retiring "soon," clarifying that he plans to hang up his boots within the next “one or two years.” He stated, "When I mean soon, it’s probably one or two years, I’ll still be at the game.”

The legendary forward, who has already amassed over 950 goals across both club and international competitions, joined Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr in 2023 following his second departure from Manchester United in late 2022. This high-profile move catalyzed a trend of other veteran stars moving to the Saudi Pro League, as the kingdom aggressively invests in sports as part of its economic diversification strategy, which also includes hosting the 2034 World Cup.