Cristiano Ronaldo confirms 2026 World Cup will be his last: 'It is my final tournament'

Cristiano Ronaldo has ended the speculation once and for all — the 2026 World Cup will be his last as a professional. The Portugal captain made the announcement on the eve of his side’s Round of 16 showdown against Spain in Dallas, confirming that Monday night’s match could mark the beginning of the end of his storied international career. Speaking to the media in a pre-match press conference, the 41-year-old Al-Nassr forward was direct and emotional. “Let this be my last World Cup; it is my last World Cup, and I hope tomorrow won't be my last match,” Ronaldo said. A spontaneous round of applause from the journalists in the room followed as he left the stage. Just a day earlier, Ronaldo had been more guarded when asked about his future beyond this tournament. “I will finish when I choose. You always ask the same question: is this the last one? We will see. I don't want to draw attention to this. The most important thing is to play well tomorrow,” he said on Sunday. But by Monday, the Portuguese legend had made up his mind. He turned 41 during the group stage and will be 45 by the time the next World Cup rolls around in 2030. “I’m going to be perfectly honest — regardless of what happens tomorrow, Cristiano is going to leave with a clear conscience, 1,000 percent,” Ronaldo added. “I have given all I could to football. It’s my passion to play for so many years. I didn’t do it out of need; I’m doing well in life. It’s about passion. I play for the national team and I love to play football.” Portugal’s path to the knockout stage has been anything but smooth. They opened Group H with a shock draw against DR Congo, where Ronaldo failed to find the net. He responded with a brace in a victory over Uzbekistan — becoming the first player to score at six different World Cups in the process. A goalless draw against Colombia followed, raising fresh questions about his influence in the side. Despite the criticism, Ronaldo has produced crucial moments. His penalty in a 2-1 win over Croatia made him the second-oldest goalscorer in World Cup history, and he is now the oldest player ever to feature in the knockout rounds of the tournament. “You have to enjoy every match at a huge competition like the World Cup,” Ronaldo said. “I think I’m not doing so bad. I’ve scored three goals — others have done better, but I think I’m doing not so bad.” With 146 goals in 232 appearances for Portugal, Ronaldo remains his nation’s all-time leading scorer and most-capped player. Monday’s clash against Spain could be one of his last dances in a Portugal shirt.