Cristiano Ronaldo: '2026 World Cup will be my last'

Portugal’s all-time leading scorer Cristiano Ronaldo has opened up about the end of his international journey, revealing that the 2026 World Cup will be his last appearance on football’s biggest stage. “First of all, thank you for everything you’ve given to football. This will be my last World Cup,” the 39-year-old Al-Nassr star told reporters in a candid moment that quickly made headlines across the globe. With five World Cup tournaments already under his belt, Ronaldo is signaling that the 2026 edition—set to be co-hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada—will mark the final chapter of his national team career. Portugal have already secured their spot for the tournament, and Ronaldo’s presence will undoubtedly be a major storyline. Despite winning the European Championship in 2016, the World Cup trophy remains the missing piece in his legendary collection. His best performance at a World Cup came in 2006 when Portugal finished fourth; since then, he has pushed his team to semifinals and quarterfinals but never all the way. Speaking with emotion, Ronaldo made it clear that this is not just another tournament for him. It’s the last dance. The football world now looks ahead to 2026, knowing they’ll be witnessing the final World Cup appearances of one of the game’s all-time greats.