Cristiano Ronaldo Confirms 2026 World Cup Will Be His Last; Neymar Announces Brazil Retirement After Norway Loss

Cristiano Ronaldo has confirmed that the 2026 World Cup will be his final appearance at the tournament, making the admission on the eve of Portugal’s round-of-16 clash with Spain. The 41-year-old forward acknowledged that Monday could be his last game at the global showpiece if his side falls to their Iberian rivals. “This will be my last World Cup; God willing tomorrow is not my last game,” Ronaldo said. “And if it is, well, it is. If he has to go without lifting the only trophy to resist him, so be it. I’m not missing anything; God has been generous to me. I won’t be more Cristiano or less Cristiano if I win the World Cup or not.” Ronaldo, who will turn 45 before the 2030 edition, insisted he leaves the game with no regrets. “The day will come but, honestly, whatever happens tomorrow, I will leave with a clear conscious, not 100% but 1,000% because I have given everything to football. I don’t need it; I live well, but it’s about passion. I play football because I love it.” The five-time Ballon d’Or winner also brushed aside criticism. “They’ve tried to kill me for 23 years. There’s no point paying too much attention to it. It’s part of it … People in Portugal have faith, they never fail us, they’re always on our side, my side. All the rest is rubbish. It doesn’t matter at all.” Ronaldo’s announcement came on a dramatic evening that also saw Neymar end his international career. Brazil were eliminated by Norway in the round of 16, losing 2–1 after Bruno Guimarães missed a first-half penalty and Erling Haaland struck twice late on. Neymar, who came off the bench, pulled one back from the spot in stoppage time but could not prevent the exit. Visibly emotional, the 34-year-old confirmed his Brazil days are over. “I tried, I tried. Now it’s over. I started here, I finished here,” Neymar said, referencing the same stadium where he made his international debut in 2010.