Cristiano Ronaldo says FIFA 2026 World Cup will be his last

Portugal’s veteran Cristiano Ronaldo has said FIFA World Cup 2026 will be his last. The next year’s quadrennial event will be Ronaldo’s sixth appearance and he will be 41 when the tournament takes place in the USA, Mexico and Canada.

The Portuguese has won many coveted titles in his glorious career but the World Cup trophy is still missing in his glittering cabinet.

“Definitely, yes, because I will be 41 years old,” Ronaldo told CNN anchor Becky Anderson in a live video link from Portugal’s training camp to a tourism conference in Saudi Arabia.

Ronaldo has scored 143 goals for the national team, which is the most in men’s football.

“I feel very good in this moment. I score goals, I still feel quick and sharp, I’m enjoying my game in the national team,” he said.

In regard to the end of his playing career, Ronaldo said, “Let’s be honest, when I mean soon I mean probably one, two years.

“I’m enjoying the moment. But when I mean soon, it’s really soon, because I give everything for football. I’m in the game for the last 25 years, I did everything.

“I have many records. I’m really proud. So let’s enjoy the moment, live the moment.”

“Soon. But I think I will be prepared,” Ronaldo said when he was asked about his retirement plans while talking to Piers Morgan.

“It will be tough, of course. It will be difficult? Yes. Probably [I] will cry, yes … I’m [an] open person. [It] will be very, very difficult, yes.”

Ronaldo has won the Euro and UEFA Nations League with Portugal and he would want to end his career on a high in 2026.