Cristiano Ronaldo has confirmed that the 2026 World Cup will be his last international tournament, as Portugal prepare to face Spain in the last 16 tonight. The 41-year-old, widely regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time, is playing at his sixth World Cup and has stated unequivocally that this will be his final appearance on the global stage.
Ronaldo's World Cup Farewell
Speaking to media before the match, Ronaldo said: “Yes, it’s my last one. Let go and enjoy it.” When pressed on a timeline for his retirement from international duty, he responded: “I will retire when I want, not when you want.” He added: “Whether I play or I stay on the bench, the influence will not change. I am not the player I used to be but I am not doing too bad. I keep scoring goals. If I can’t score, it will be another team-mate to score and we hope to go to the next round. The mission is to advance, not for me to score.”
Ronaldo, who has scored three goals in the tournament so far—two against Uzbekistan in the group stage and a penalty against Croatia in the previous round—emphasised his enduring commitment. “It’s been like this since I was 18, it is not going to change,” he said. “I always put body and soul trying to get our goals - playing or not playing, I will always have an important role to play. As I said before, I will stop when I choose, not when you choose. You always ask the same question. I don’t want to draw attention to this because it is less important.”
Record-Breaking Career
Capped 232 times by Portugal, Ronaldo has scored 146 international goals and led his country to victory at Euro 2016. His club career includes spells at Manchester United, Real Madrid, and Juventus, and he currently plays for Saudi side Al-Nassr. In June 2025, he signed a new two-year deal with Al-Nassr, meaning he still has 12 months remaining on his contract.
Questions have also been raised about when the Sporting Lisbon product will retire from football entirely. When asked last year if this World Cup would be his final tournament, he replied: “Definitely, yes. I will be 41 years old and I think [this] will be the moment in the big competition.” He also added that he would likely retire from football “soon,” saying: “Let’s be honest, when I mean soon, it’s probably one or two years I’ll still be at the game.”
Portugal vs Spain: A Crucial Clash
Portugal face Spain in the World Cup last 16 tonight, with Spain considered one of the tournament favourites. Ronaldo’s future in the competition hangs in the balance, as a defeat would end his international career. The match is expected to be highly charged, with Ronaldo at the centre of attention once again.
