Cristiano Ronaldo confirms 2026 World Cup will be his last for Portugal
Cristiano Ronaldo has confirmed that the 2026 World Cup in North America will be his final international tournament for Portugal.
The 41-year-old Al Nassr striker ended mounting speculation over a potential appearance at the 2030 edition during a press conference on Sunday.
Speaking ahead of his nation’s crucial last-16 tie against Spain, the veteran forward acknowledged the impending conclusion of his global career.
“I want to enjoy it as much as possible, because it will be my last World Cup, yes. But I hope that tomorrow won’t be my last game in the World Cup,” he explained.
A record-breaking legacy on the global stage
The global icon made his senior international debut in 2003 and has since amassed an astonishing 146 goals in 232 appearances.
Those remarkable statistics firmly cement the Portuguese captain’s status as the highest goalscorer in the history of men’s international football.
Despite facing some early criticism following a slow start to the current tournament, the legendary attacker recently shattered yet another long-standing milestone.
Six tournaments and counting
Last month, he became the first male player to score in six different editions of global football’s most prestigious competition.
That historic achievement was secured when the talisman bagged a brace during a dominant 5-0 victory over Uzbekistan in Group K.
Supporters worldwide will now be watching closely to see how far the seasoned international can lead his country during his farewell outing.