Cristiano Ronaldo, the standout forward for Portugal, stated that the 2026 FIFA World Cup will "absolutely" be his final tournament.
In an interview with CNN's Becky Anderson at the Tourise Summit in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Tuesday, Ronaldo stated, "I think it will be the point in the major competition when I turn 41."
"I am enjoying the present, but when I mean soon, it is really soon because I gave everything for football," Ronaldo, the all-time best goalscorer in international soccer history, said when asked when he will officially retire from the game.
For the past 25 years, I have been involved in the game. I did it all. I hold numerous records in a variety of situations for both the national teams and clubs. I am incredibly proud, so let us savor and live in the now.Ronaldo is the only male player to score at five World Cups and has 143 goals for his country.
On June 11, 2026, the 48-team tournament—the biggest in history—begins in the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
The Kennedy Center in Washington, DC, will host the World Cup draw on December 5.