Cristiano Ronaldo: '2026 World Cup Will Be My Last'

On the eve of Portugal’s Round of 16 clash against Spain – set for Monday at 10:00 PM local time – captain Cristiano Ronaldo faced the press and delivered a definitive statement about his international future at the World Cup. The 41-year-old striker, who has already netted three times in this tournament, confirmed that the 2026 edition will be his final appearance on football’s biggest stage. But he was quick to stress that this does not mean retirement from the game itself. “I want to enjoy every moment of this World Cup. Whatever happens tomorrow, I will leave the tournament with a clear conscience. I’ve given everything to football – not one hundred percent, but a thousand. I never played because I had to; I played because I love it. And I still play for my national team and my club because of that love,” Ronaldo said. Despite his age, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner remains confident in his ability to contribute. He acknowledged that his physical peak is behind him but insisted that scoring is still part of his game – and the team’s progression matters more than personal milestones. “I’m not the same player I used to be, but I keep scoring. I hope to score again tomorrow. If I don’t, someone else will – and we want to move on. The main goal is advancing, not whether I get on the scoresheet. Honestly, I don’t think I’m playing that badly – I’ve scored three goals! We’ll see if I can add another tomorrow,” he added. Ronaldo also spoke about facing Spain, a country that holds deep personal significance after his long stint at Real Madrid. While acknowledging Spain’s status as favourites, he backed his side to pull off a result. “Spain always contend for every trophy. On paper, they’re the favourites because they’ve won before, but tomorrow will be different. I enjoy playing against them – it’s always a good game. I have a feeling we’re going to win,” the captain concluded.