Al Malaeb newspaper – Portuguese Cristiano Ronaldo, who won the Ballon d’Or for the best player in the world five times, revealed on Tuesday during a video interview in Riyadh that the 2026 FIFA World Cup finals will “inevitably” be his last, thus ending a historic era.
The Saudi Al-Nasr striker, who explained that he is advancing in age and wants to retire soon, will participate in the World Cup, whose twenty-third edition is being hosted by the United States of America, Canada and Mexico, for the sixth time in his career.
Ronaldo (40 years old) answered during a Saudi video forum, after being asked whether the 2026 edition would be his final participation in the World Cup, “Yes, definitely. I will be forty-one years old and I think it will be the right moment.”
The former Manchester United, Real Madrid, and Italian Juventus star confirmed that he will retire “soon.”
He continued, “Let’s be honest, when I say soon, I mean maybe an additional year or two in the game.”
Portugal has not yet decided on its qualification for the finals, but it is capable of doing so if it wins over Ireland on Thursday in the penultimate round of the European qualifiers.
Ronaldo joined Al-Nasr from United in 2022 after a second period he spent in England.
The Portuguese has become the most prominent face of football in the oil-rich Gulf country, which has attracted many football stars with huge contracts as part of a wide sports campaign in preparation for hosting the 2036 World Cup.
Despite his illustrious career, Ronaldo has not yet succeeded in leading Portugal to the World Cup title.
