The curtain is beginning to close on Cristiano Ronaldo’s World Cup career.
Speaking to reporters ahead of Portugal’s Round of 16 showdown with Spain on Monday, Ronaldo confirmed that the 2026 tournament will be the final World Cup appearance of his legendary career.
“I want to enjoy it as much as possible, because it will be my last World Cup, yes. But I hope that tomorrow won’t be my last game in the World Cup,” Ronaldo said.
The 41-year-old has once again been a key figure for Portugal throughout the tournament, starting all four matches and scoring three goals as his country advanced to the knockout stage.
While Ronaldo acknowledged this is his final World Cup, he made it clear that he is not ready to discuss retirement beyond the tournament.
“I’m always committed, body and soul, to helping the National Team. Whether I’m playing or not, I’ll always have an important role,” Ronaldo said. “I’ll finish when I want to, not when you want me to. It’s a waste of time to keep asking that question. But I don’t want to draw attention to that. The most important thing is tomorrow.”
Ronaldo’s announcement marks another milestone in what has been a World Cup featuring several iconic veterans, including Lionel Messi and Luka Modrić, who are also widely expected to be making their final appearances on soccer’s biggest stage.
Portugal will eventually have to navigate life without its all-time leading scorer, but signs of the transition are already emerging. In the Round of 32, 25-year-old Gonçalo Ramos came off the bench to score a dramatic 94th-minute winner that sent Portugal into the Round of 16.
Despite his age, Ronaldo believes Portugal has what it takes to make a deep run.
“If we didn’t have the idea that we could win the World Cup, we wouldn’t be here. It’s been a beautiful experience. We’ve improved game by game.
“We know it’s a competition where it’s impossible to play well in every game, and it’s not easy for anyone; just look at who’s already been eliminated. I see the team as calm; we’ve trained well, we’ve prepared well.”
Portugal’s Round of 16 clash carries extra intrigue given Ronaldo’s history against Spain on the World Cup stage. The two sides last met at the 2018 tournament, where Ronaldo produced one of the greatest performances of his international career, scoring a hat trick in a thrilling 3-3 draw.
