The Portugal forward has given further hints about his retirement schedule, saying the World Cup will be his last major tournament.
Published November 11, 2025
Cristiano Ronaldo has put a deadline on his cryptic hints of retirement, saying he will retire in “a year or two”.
The Portugal forward, who has scored more than 950 goals for club and country since making his debut for Sporting as a teenager in 2002, said in an interview on Tuesday that he would soon retire to spend time with his family.
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Ronaldo extended his contract with Saudi Arabia’s Al Nasr until 2027 in June, and the 40-year-old Portuguese is also eyeing next year’s World Cup, the only major title missing from his trophy cabinet.
“For me, near means 10 years from now… No, I’m just kidding,” Ronaldo said in a video call at the Saudi-hosted World Summit on Tourism and Investment.
“I’m really enjoying the moment. As you know, in football, when you get to a certain age, you count the days very quickly.
“I feel really good at the moment. I scored a goal, I still have the speed and sharpness. I’m enjoying playing for the national team. But let’s be honest, of course, it’s probably a year or two away.”
Ronaldo’s last World Cup
With Portugal on the verge of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup, Ronaldo admitted that competitions in the US, Canada and Mexico will be an intense stage on soccer’s biggest stage.
“Absolutely, yes, because (at the World Cup) I will be 41 years old,” Ronaldo said. Ronaldo is also the country’s all-time leading scorer with 143 goals.
“I gave everything for football. I have been involved in football for the past 25 years. I have done everything. I have many records in different scenarios for club and national team.”
“I’m really proud of it. So let’s enjoy this moment and live in the moment.”
Ronaldo said he knows he will go down in history as one of the greatest players of all time.
But will his son Cristiano dos Santos Jr., who is following in his footsteps by playing for Portugal’s U-16 team, become a better player than his father?
“As humans, we don’t always want someone to be better than us. But I want my children to be better than me. I’m never going to be jealous of him,” he said.
“I don’t want to put any pressure on that, because what I want for him is for him to be happy. It doesn’t matter if you want to play soccer or some other sport. Be happy and be free. Don’t go with dad’s pressure, because it’s tough.”
“This is a new generation, a different generation. They think differently, live differently. But as a father, I’m here to help him become what he wants to be. I will be his support.”
