Cristiano Ronaldo has not officially confirmed retirement yet, but speculation intensified after his sister Katia Aveiro told SportTV that the 2026 FIFA World Cup will be “his last dance” with the Portugal national team. Speaking ahead of Portugal’s knockout match, Katia said, “Enjoy it while it lasts. It’s ending soon.
Ronaldo, 41, responded directly after Portugal’s 2-1 win over Croatia in the Round of 32, where he scored a penalty to level the match at 1-1. Addressing the retirement talk, Ronaldo said, “My future isn’t important right now. I’ll have time, after winning or losing, I’ll talk to my family and then make the best decision. I don’t make decisions in the heat of the moment anymore. Now, everything is done calmly. It’s about enjoying the present”.
Earlier, Ronaldo told a Saudi forum that the 2026 World Cup would “definitely” be his last, saying, “I’m gonna be 41 years old and I think it will be the moment”. He also clarified that “soon” means “probably one or two years” before he retires from football entirely.
The Al Nassr forward is playing in his record sixth World Cup and became the oldest player to score in a FIFA World Cup knockout match at 41 years and 147 days. He has 143 international goals and 10 World Cup goals, making him Portugal’s top World Cup scorer.
While Katia Aveiro believes the tournament marks his international farewell, Ronaldo insists no decision is final yet. Portugal coach Roberto Martinez continues to start him, and Ronaldo said he still feels “quick and sharp” and is “enjoying my game in the national team”. For now, his focus remains on the World Cup 2026, with any retirement call coming “after the tournament, not now”.
