Cristiano Ronaldo retirement update as 2026 World Cup statement says everything
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Cristiano Ronaldo is nearing the end of his iconic career, but the forward is not planning to hang up his boots just yet. With his 40th birthday less than a month away, rather than calling time on his career, Ronaldo is proving to be an exception and is in talks over a new deal with Al-Nassr reported to be worth over £167.9million (€200m). The veteran forward continues to score for club and country, perhaps driven by his will to finally win the sport’s grandest prize: the World Cup trophy.
Ronaldo was part of the Portugal squad that won Euro 2016, and his tally of 135 goals is a record at international level. Led by manager Roberto Martinez, qualifying for the 2026 World Cup will surely be Ronaldo's last chance to make history and win the famous trophy.
In 2024, Ronaldo scored seven in 12 appearances for Portugal and remains one of the first names on the teamsheet. His Portugal colleagues are convinced Ronaldo will still be their star striker next year and are focused on winning the World Cup to ensure his storied career ends on a high, should he choose to retire in 2026.
Chelsea striker Joao Felix has been part of the international team since 2019 and has given insight into Ronaldo’s immediate plans. Earlier this month, Felix was asked if he thought Ronaldo planned to participate in the 2026 World Cup. “Yes, I think so. Everything suggests that he will,” Felix told TNT Sports Mexico. “He has this dream of winning the World Cup, and we are going to do everything possible to give him that prize, which I think is the only one he is missing.”.
