Cristiano Ronaldo Confirms 2026 World Cup Will Be His Final Tournament

Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo, 40, has confirmed that the 2026 World Cup will be his last. The Al Nassr forward, with 953 career goals and 143 for Portugal, said he plans to retire in one or two years. The tournament in the USA, Canada, and Mexico will mark his sixth World Cup appearance.

For the 2026 World Cup, Cristiano Ronaldo has confirmed it will be his final appearance on football’s biggest stage. The 40-year-old Portugal captain, who currently plays for Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia, holds the record for the most caps in men’s international football with 225 and has scored 953 career goals for club and country. Speaking to CNN, Ronaldo said he plans to retire from professional football within “one or two years,” acknowledging that by the next World Cup he will be 41 and ready to end his international career.

The tournament, set to be held across Canada, Mexico, and the United States, will mark his sixth World Cup appearance, an unprecedented feat for an outfield player. Ronaldo, who remains the all-time leading men’s international goalscorer with 143 goals, continues to chase the remarkable milestone of 1,000 career goals.

Despite winning the Euro 2016 title with Portugal, the World Cup remains one of the few major honours missing from his illustrious career, which has spanned spells at Sporting Lisbon, Manchester United, Real Madrid, and Juventus. Portugal, under coach Roberto Martinez, are on the verge of qualification and need a win against the Republic of Ireland to confirm their place in next year’s tournament.