Ronaldo Confirms 2026 World Cup Will Be His Last
Cristiano Ronaldo confirmed the 2026 World Cup will be his last tournament, ending a record-breaking international career that spans six World Cups.
Cristiano Ronaldo, Portugal's captain and forward, has confirmed that the 2026 FIFA World Cup will be his final tournament. The announcement comes after weeks of speculation, including comments from his sister Katia Aveiro that he would retire from international football after this tournament. Initially, the 41-year-old said he would not rush the decision and would wait until the competition ended.
Ahead of Portugal's Round of 16 clash against Spain on July 6, Ronaldo definitively stated this would be his last World Cup. "This will be my final World Cup," he said. "The time for me to say goodbye to international football is coming. No matter what happens after this, I will leave with 100 percent peace of mind because I have given everything to football. I don't even need it in my life anymore, and I have a good life, but it's about those with passion. I play football because I love it, and this World Cup will be the most memorable for me because the passion from people is greater than ever. It's the best moment in terms of emotion."
Ronaldo has now appeared in six World Cup final tournaments (2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022, and 2026) and remains the only player in the world to have scored in six separate World Cup final tournaments.
