Portugal legend Cristiano Ronaldo has announced that the 2026 World Cup will be his final appearance in the tournament, stating he expects to retire from all professional football within “one or two years.”
The 40-year-old striker, who plays for Al-Nassr and holds the international records for caps and goals, confirmed the news at the Tourise Summit in Riyadh.
“Definitely, yes,” Ronaldo said of the 2026 World Cup (his sixth). “I will be 41 years old and I think [this] will be the moment in the big competition.”
Ronaldo, who has scored 953 career goals, said his full retirement would likely come in the next couple of years.
Portugal must defeat the Republic of Ireland on Thursday to secure their spot in the tournament.
