Football legend Cristiano Ronaldo has confirmed that the 2026 FIFA World Cup will be his final tournament, signaling his impending retirement from the sport.
The 40-year-old Portuguese superstar made the announcement during an interview at the Tourise Summit in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on November 11. He stated he would retire “soon.”
“I’m enjoying the moment, but when I say soon, it’s really soon,” Ronaldo said. “I give everything for football. I’ve been in the game for 25 years and have done everything.”
He added that he holds many records in different scenarios for both clubs and the national team. “I am very proud. So let’s enjoy the moment and live the present.”
The 2026 World Cup, hosted in North America, will mark Ronaldo’s sixth appearance in the prestigious tournament. He is recognized as the World Cup’s historical top scorer and the only male player to score in five different World Cups.
Despite these achievements, Ronaldo still seeks an elusive World Cup championship for Portugal. He helped the team reach fourth place in his first appearance in 2006, but Portugal has not advanced past the quarterfinals since then.
Ronaldo emphasized that he still feels capable of performing at the highest level. He projects his retirement to be within the next one or two years.
“The moment is good, I feel very good right now,” he stated. “I’m scoring goals, I still feel fast and agile, I’m enjoying my game for the national team and for Al Nassr of the Saudi Pro League.”
Beyond his own career, Ronaldo expressed hopes for his family’s future in football, specifically his 15-year-old son, Cristiano Jr. Cristiano Jr. currently plays for Portugal’s U16 club.
Ronaldo hopes his son can surpass his own achievements. “I wish if my children become better than me, I will never be jealous of him, believe me,” he said. “As a father, I’m here to help him be what he wants to be.”
He previously shared similar sentiments in the 2022 Netflix docuseries “I Am Georgina,” which profiled his fiancée Georgina Rodríguez. Ronaldo stated he would “never pressure” his son into football but acknowledged his potential for greatness.
“He will do what he wants,” Cristiano Sr. affirmed. “What I most want for [Cristiano Jr.] and for everyone else is for them to be happy and to choose what they want. I will support them in everything they decide.”
Ronaldo shares Cristiano Jr. with a woman whose identity has not been publicly revealed. He also has twins, Eva Maria and Mateo, 7, born via surrogacy in 2017. With Georgina Rodríguez, he has daughters Alana, 8, and Bella, 3. Bella’s twin brother, Ángel, passed away during childbirth in 2022.