By: Odeh Favour Adiya
Portugal captain and five-time Ballon d’Or winner, Cristiano Ronaldo, has officially confirmed that the ongoing 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico will be the final World Cup appearance of his illustrious footballing career.
The 41-year-old Al-Nassr forward made the landmark disclosure while speaking to journalists on Sunday, just ahead of Portugal’s highly anticipated Round of 16 clash against Spain.
The football icon stressed that his primary focus right now is to savor the remaining days of the global showpiece, insisting that he is driven purely by his love for the game rather than a need to silence critics.
Speaking on his mindset ahead of the knockout stage, Ronaldo said, “It’s about enjoying it as much as possible. This will be my last World Cup, but let’s hope tomorrow isn’t my last game.”
Reflecting on his eventual departure from the national team setup, the legendary striker maintained that he would step away with absolute peace of mind, having given his all to the sport for over two decades.
“The day will come [when I retire from international football]. But I’ll be honest: whatever happens tomorrow, Cristiano will leave with a clear conscience—100%, no, 1,000%. Because I’ve given everything in football,” he declared.
The veteran forward has enjoyed a historic campaign in North America, entering the record books as the very first player to score in six different editions of the FIFA World Cup after finding the net twice against Uzbekistan during the group stages. He further cemented his impact by converting a crucial penalty against Croatia in the Round of 32, which marked his first-ever goal in a World Cup knockout match.
Describing the ongoing tournament as the most emotionally rewarding experience of his career, Ronaldo opened up about the immense love and energy he has witnessed from the fans.
“It’s been fantastic. It goes beyond the pitch. This is the World Cup I’ll remember the most because of people’s passion. It’s even more this time; I don’t know why. It’s been, emotionally, the best. I’ve enjoyed it very much,” he said.
He further added, “I don’t need it; I have a good life, but it’s about passion. I play football because I love it… You have to enjoy every day. And I’ve scored three goals at this World Cup. I’m not doing too badly, right?”
When questioned about how a failure to lift the elusive World Cup trophy might impact his legendary status, the former Manchester United and Real Madrid star, who remains under contract with Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr until 2027, firmly stated that a single tournament cannot define his career.
“I’m not lacking anything in life. I’m not going to be more or less Cristiano because I win the World Cup. We have the qualities to win, but only one country can win it. Age gives you maturity and experience,” he stated.
Rounding off his interaction with the press, the Portuguese skipper extended an unexpected note of appreciation to the media and his critics, stating that the intense scrutiny has only fueled his personal development.
“I’m thankful even for the attacks I receive, turning 40 and I hope to live another 40 years with the criticism, that’s how you grow the most as a person, and I thank you, journalists, for that,” Ronaldo concluded.
