Portugal superstar, Cristiano Ronaldo, has confirmed that the 2026 FIFA World Cup will “definitely” mark the end of his World Cup journey.
“I will be 41 years old and I think will be the moment in the big competition,” Ronaldo told CNN’s Becky Anderson during an interview at the Tourism Summit in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Tuesday.
Reflecting on the twilight of his illustrious career, Ronaldo added, “I’m enjoying the moment, but when I mean soon, it’s really soon because I gave everything for football,” the all-time leading goalscorer in international soccer history said.
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner, who has spent 25 years in professional football, said he is proud of his achievements.
“I’m in the game for the last 25 years. I did everything. I have many records in the different scenarios in the clubs and also in the national teams. I’m really proud, so let’s enjoy the moment, live the moment.”
Ronaldo has scored 143 goals for Portugal and became the first male player to feature in five World Cups.
The next tournament, which will be the largest ever with 48 teams, begins on June 11, 2026, in the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
The draw for the tournament is set for December 5 at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC.
Earlier this year, Ronaldo became the first billionaire footballer following a contract with Al Nassr, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.
Ronaldo also expressed his hopes for his son Cristiano Jr., currently playing for Portugal’s under-16 team.
“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 emphasized that he wants his son to enjoy football without the weight of expectations. “As a father, I’m here to help him to be whatever he wants to be.”
