Benson Chukwu
Football maestro Cristiano Ronaldo has confirmed that the upcoming 2026 World Cup will be his last, signaling the approaching end of his record-breaking journey in the sport.
The Portuguese striker, now 40 and holder of over 950 career goals, acknowledged on Tuesday that his retirement is imminent—likely within “one or two years.”
“Absolutely, yes,” he stated during a virtual appearance at a Saudi sports forum when asked if 2026 would be his World Cup farewell. “Turning 41 around that time feels like the right moment to step away.”
Ronaldo, whose high-profile transfer to Al Nassr reshaped Saudi football, revisited his recent remarks about an impending exit from the game, clarifying: “By ‘soon,’ I mean I have maybe another season or two left in me.”
The five-time FIFA World Player of the Year now eyes a historic sixth World Cup appearance in 2026. His closest brush with glory came in 2006, when Portugal fell just short in the semi-finals against France.
While Portugal’s qualification for the 2026 tournament—co-hosted by the USA, Canada, and Mexico—is pending, a victory against Ireland this Thursday would cement their spot.
Ronaldo’s move to Al Nassr in late 2022, following a turbulent exit from Manchester United, sparked a wave of elite players joining Saudi Arabia’s rapidly growing football league.
Ayomide Olaniyan
