Cristiano Ronaldo has stated that the 2026 FIFA World Cup will "definitely" be his last major tournament. In an interview held on Tuesday, November 11, 2025, at the Tourise Summit in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, the Portuguese superstar told CNN's Becky Anderson that he anticipates retiring from the sport within the next couple of years.
Ronaldo, who will be 41 years old during the 2026 World Cup, explained his reasoning: "I will be 41 years old, and I think it will be the moment in the big competition". While he acknowledged that the end of his career is approaching, he insists that he still feels good and is enjoying his time with both Al Nassr and the Portugal national team. "I feel very good in this moment. I score goals, I still feel quick and sharp, I'm enjoying my game in the national team," he said.
The forward, who currently plays for Saudi Arabian side Al Nassr, has extended his contract with the club until 2027. Despite his advancing age, Ronaldo remains a key player for his country, having scored five goals in four qualifying games for the upcoming World Cup. These goals have extended his world record for international goals to 143. Portugal is on the verge of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup and needs just two points from their final qualifying matches. They will face Ireland on Thursday and Armenia on Sunday.
Ronaldo is expected to make his sixth World Cup appearance, a feat only matched by his longtime rival, Lionel Messi. The 2026 tournament, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, will be the largest in history, with 48 teams participating. This may be Ronaldo's last chance to win the trophy that has eluded him throughout his illustrious career. His best finish was in 2006, when Portugal lost to France in the semi-finals.
Beyond his own career, Ronaldo also spoke about his son, Cristiano Jr., who currently plays in Portugal's Under-16 club. Ronaldo expressed his hope that his son would surpass his achievements but emphasized that he does not want to put any pressure on him. "Human beings, we don't want nobody being better than us," Ronaldo said. "But in my point, I wish if my kids will be better than me, I'm never going to be jealous of him, trust me". He added, "As a father, I'm here to help him to be whatever he wants to be".
Ronaldo's impending retirement will mark the end of an era in football. The five-time Ballon d'Or winner has scored over 950 goals for club and country. He has won numerous titles, including the European Championship with Portugal in 2016.
