The Portuguese captain will play his sixth and final World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico
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Cristiano Ronaldo made headlines again. The Portuguese forward has just confirmed that the 2026 World Cup will be his definitive farewell to the top national team competition. The Al Nassr Portuguese footballer dispelled any speculation about his international future and made it clear that his World Cup cycle is coming to an end.
The Portuguese star, who will turn 41 years old when the World Cup is held in the United States, Mexico, and Canada, spoke with the clarity and frankness that characterize him: "My last World Cup? Yes, for sure, I'll be 41 years old and I think that will be the moment, although I don't know... As I said, I'm enjoying this moment," joked the Madeira star in a videoconference interview from Portugal's training camp in Oeiras (Lisbon), at the TOURISE forum in Saudi Arabia, according to the EFE agency.
Ronaldo aseguró que el Mundial 2026 será el último
This way, the all-time top scorer in international football sets an end date for a World Cup career that began in Germany 2006, when he was just 21 years old. Since then, CR7 has played in every tournament, scoring eight goals and leaving an indelible mark on football history. His participation in 2026 will mark a milestone: it will be his sixth World Cup, a record achieved by very few.
However, despite the reflective tone, Ronaldo also allowed himself to joke about his professional future, hinting that he still has plenty of energy left: "Retire soon? That will happen in ten years. That means soon for me. People think that when I talk about retiring soon it means in six months or a year. I'm joking! When you reach a certain age, you start counting the months quickly," he clarified with laughter.
Ronaldo también habló de su retiro
The former Real Madrid forward is going through a great period of form both at Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia and with the Portuguese national team, where he continues to be a key player under Roberto Martínez's leadership. With qualification for the World Cup practically secured, Portugal needs at least one victory against Ireland or Armenia in this November break to secure its ticket to the continental event.
