Portuguese football superstar Cristiano Ronaldo has officially announced that the 2026 FIFA World Cup will be his final international tournament. The 40-year-old legend made this emotional declaration during the Tourism Summit in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Ronaldo revealed that he plans to retire from professional football within the next one or two years. This means the 2026 World Cup, which will be hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, will be his last chance to compete on football’s biggest stage.
The forward is currently playing for Al-Nassr, a club in Saudi Arabia’s top football league. Despite being in the later stages of his career, Ronaldo continues to perform at a high level and remains dedicated to the sport that made him one of the greatest players in history.
Ronaldo holds incredible records for Portugal’s national team. He has earned 225 international caps, meaning he has played for his country 225 times – more than any other Portuguese player. He is also Portugal’s all-time leading scorer with 143 international goals, a record that may never be broken.
Throughout his brilliant career, Ronaldo has won nearly every major trophy in football. He led Portugal to victory at Euro 2016, bringing home the country’s first major international championship. However, one prize has escaped him: the FIFA World Cup trophy.
The 2026 World Cup represents Ronaldo’s final opportunity to complete his trophy collection and achieve the one dream that has remained out of reach throughout his legendary career.
